Legitimation

A child born to a married couple is known legally as a “legitimate” child but when born to unmarried parents, a child is legally illegitimate. In NC, an unmarried man who is proven to be a father may file a lawsuit called legitimation proceeding to ask the court to recognize his child as having all of the same rights and protections as a child born of a marriage (i.e., a legitimate child). There are several ways people may legitimate their child, including getting married. When a court enters an order legitimating a child, the child’s father will be placed on the birth certificate if it has not already been included there.