Fill and Sign the Instructions on Legitimation Why Should Children Be Form

Petition for Legitimation (Solo Version) — Rev. July 18, 2005 Page 1 of 4 Provided by the DeKalb County Superior Court and the Atlanta Legal Aid Society COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT STATE OF GEORGIA , Petitioner, vs. , Respondent. Civil Action Case Number PETITION FOR LEGITIMATION The Petitioner files this action, and states the following in support of his petition: 1. I believe I am the father of the following minor child(ren), born out of wedlock: Current Name of Child Male / Female Date of Birth 2. Jurisdiction and venue are proper in this Court because: [Check and complete only one of the following, (a) through (e) of this paragraph. If none of these applies, you cannot file for legitimation in County.] G (a) the Respondent mother resides in County, Georgia. G (b) the Respondent mother resides in Georgia outside County, but the child or I reside in County, and the mother has consented to venue here. G (c) t he Respo ndent mo t her resides o ut side t he St at e o f Geo rgia and t he child o r I reside in County, Georgia. Petition for Legitimation (Solo Version) — Rev. July 18, 2005 Page 2 of 4 Provided by the DeKalb County Superior Court and the Atlanta Legal Aid Society G (d) t he whereabo ut s o f t he Respo ndent mo t her are unkno wn and t h e child o r I reside in County, Georgia. (e) the mother of the child is deceased and the child or I reside in County, Georgia. 3. The Respondent, , is the child’s mother. [Check and complete only one of the following.] G (a) The mother’s address is . G (b) The mother is deceased. 4. No other man is shown as the father on the birth certificate, and the mother was not married to any other man at the time of the child’s conception or birth. 5. [Check and complete all that apply below.] The child lives with the following person who takes care of the child: G (a) The Respondent / mother G (b) The Petitioner / father G (c) Neither the child’s mother nor the Petitioner. Instead, the child live s with , whose relationship to the child is . They reside at the following address: in Co unt y, in t he St at e of . 6. My paternity of the child has been established by a court or by operation of l aw based on the child’s birth certificate or, if paternity has not been legally esta blished, I state that I am the child’s natural father. I want to legitimate my relationship with the child, as provided in OCGA §19-7-22, so that the child will have full rights as my child, and I will have full rights as the father of the child. I believe that legitimation would be in the child’s best interests. G Petition for Legitimation (Solo Version) — Rev. July 18, 2005 Page 3 of 4 Provided by the DeKalb County Superior Court and the Atlanta Legal Aid Society 7. [Check and complete all that apply below.] I want the birth records of the child to be changed as follows: G (a) I want the child’s last name to be changed on the birth record to my last name. G (b) I want my name to be entered as the father on the birth record. G (c) No changes are necessary on the birth record concerning either the fathe r’s name or the child’s last name. 8. [Check and complete part (a) or part (b), but not both.] G (a) There is already a child support order concerning the child. The current order was issued by the Court / Agency in court case number . It requires me to pay $ per . G (b) There is currently no child support order concerning the child. THEREFORE, the Petitioner asks: [Check and complete only the ones that apply below.] G (a) That process issue and the Respondent be served with a copy of this Petition for Legitimation; G (b) That t he Co urt o rder service by publicat io n fo r t he Respo ndent mo t her, who se address is unkno wn. I am filing my Affidavit(s) of Diligent Search with this Petition, and incorporate it here by reference. G (c) I ask that the Court enter an Order legitimating my relationship w ith the child, so that the child will be recognized as my legitimate child, capable of inheriting in the same manner as if born in lawful wedlock; G (d) That the last name of the child be changed to my last name; G (e) That the Department of Vital Statistics be ordered and directed to amend the child’s birth record and to reissue the birth certificate as follows: [If you checked (e) here, you must also check and complete all that apply out of the two below.] G (1) entering my name as the father on the birth record G (2) changing the child’s last name to my last name. G (f) I ask that the Court enter an Order providing for specific, liberal visitation privileges for me with the minor child. Petition for Legitimation (Solo Version) — Rev. July 18, 2005 Page 4 of 4 Provided by the DeKalb County Superior Court and the Atlanta Legal Aid Society G (g) I ask that the Court enter an Order granting the following custody: G (1) Joint legal custody of the minor child to be shared between the parents, with shared decision-making authority and full access to all informati on concerning the child’s education, religious training and medical care. G (2) Sole legal and physical custody of the minor child to me. G (h) That the Court grant such other and further relief as the Court deems fair and proper. Dated: Petitioner, Pro se (Signature) Name: Address: Phone (day): ( ) VERIFICATION My name is and I am t he Pet it io ner in t his action. I hereby swear or affirm, before a notary public, that I have read this Petition for Legitimation , which I am filing in court with this Verification, and the facts stated in the document are true. Subscribed and sworn before me on , 200 . No t ary Public Petitioner pro se Legitimation Petition solo.wpd