Please help I have just found out I am the father to a one year old little girl. I had always suspected she was mine but during birth j wasn't even allowed in the hospital and now I was finally able to get paternity testing done I have already had to miss out on so much and refuse to miss out on anymore ...I know that I will be placed on the birth certificate it I want her to have my last name and have my visitation I am more than willing to pay support and be in my child's life. I just want to know what my rights are...its not my fault I was lied to about a child not being mine and her telling me that she was with the real father just to find out a year later that was not the truth...please help...also I am in Tennessee...what's my next step
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You need to get a layer, unfortunately she doesn't have to change her last name. If she refuses there is nothing you can do. Start paying child support now by using a check so it can be tracked to show that you are taking care of the child, it will look good in court too. Keep track of everything that is said and done if you have any contact with her because you don't want to have anything said against you so document everything. Hopefully this can be worked out without court but be prepared anyway. But I suggest paying child support before you are ordered to and ask her for visitation, if she says no then take her to court you have a right to see her. Good luck.
Get a lawyer....you have a right to get the correction on your daughter's birth certificate, and you have a right to be in your child's life. This could be tricky, so that's why I suggested getting a lawyer.
It's not going to happen unless the mother agrees to change the child's name. You can't just go and change it because you want to.