When you need and want to be legally established as the father of a child and you are not married to the mother of that child, you will need to file a petition for legitimation. In the State of Georgia, when legitimacy is not legally confirmed and there is no marriage to the mother, the father will not have the right to visitation with the child, have a voice in the child's life, or have the right to petition for shared custody; however, that father can be required to maintain payment of child support.

Establishing paternal legitimacy is in the best interest of the child and the father in the long run; especially if the parents of the child or children do not intend to marry each other.