Putative Father

A putative father is a man who is believed to be the biological father of a child, but whose paternity has not been legally established. This term often arises in situations involving child custody, support, or adoption, where the father's rights and responsibilities need clarification. Being labeled a putative father does not automatically confer parental rights or responsibilities; these are determined through legal processes, like paternity testing or court declarations. Essentially, a putative father is recognized as a possible father until proven otherwise.