Do illegitimate children have anything recorded legally in any records?

Question

I am going to have a child 30 days before I am married to the father. Is my child a "bastard"? Do they even use that as a legal term anymore? My family is saying that it will somehow be recorded as an illegitimate birth and I am concerned over ramifications in the future. I would like to have a way to combat comments such as "Oh your child is a bastard, didn't you know?" and "Your child will never be legitimized".

Answer 1

Most states will allow your baby's father's name on birth certificate but your name will be your maiden name. The child will always know as will anyone looking at certificate. They no longer list them as illegitimate as they did in past. It is just the 2 different last names. Plus your child will count how old he or she is & how long you have been married on anniversaries. 30 days does not seem worth it to me. Good luck with new husband & baby.

Answer 2

A} There is no such thing as an "illegitimate" child-- unless you're referring to a Cabbage Patch Kid, all chldren are legitimately children. The whole illegitimate/bastard stigma comes from outdated inheritance law, and is abusive. And:

B} The child's birth certificate will only list your name, and not the father's, UNLESS the father (your fiance) agrees to have his name added. In that case, there is no way at all to tell when your wedding date was.

In many states, the father's name can even be added after the birth is registered, providing, again, he agrees.

[The sole possible catch is that the birth certificate will show your maiden name, and not the father's last name... and again, a quick visit to the courthouse for a legal name change for the baby after the wedding will fix it. In fact, if you're married in front of a judge and not in church/shul/temple/etc., check with the judge in advance... you may be able to do it at the same time!]

I'm more concerned over the ramifications of your family's negative attitude than over the baby's last name... I hope that, when the baby is born, they will find themselves more loving and less judgmental.

Pax--
The Padre+

Answer 3

~~the term bastard is not used as a legal term it is a slang term, and now days when the birth certificate is made, both parents can be listed on the birth certificate if the dad claims to be the dad of the baby and signs paternity papers at the hospital before they do the birth certificate. because having a child out of wedlock is such a common occurance now days no one really questions it and your child shouldn't have any serious ramifications in the future from it. anyone who puts your child down for that should be ignored, their comments are not worth spit on a sidewalk. I commend you on giving your child life, may you and your child both be blessed.~~

Answer 4

This type of terminology is outdated and no longer used. No one will ever question whether or not your child was born "out of wedlock" You name your child at birth, you can name him anything you want. for example, your name is Jane Dee now, your fiance is John Doe, name the baby Junior Doe and be done with it, you will be married shortly after birth and your name will then be Jane Doe, you will all share the same last name. If you dont want to embarrass your child tell him that "back in the day" mother's maiden name was listed on birth certificate. Mine was and my parents were married eight years before I came along.

Answer 5

I know that in Texas, when the child is born you fill out an Acknowledgment of Paternity at the hospital and then your name will go on the birth certificate. I am not sure about your state, but I think that most of them would do something similar.

Answer 6

Noone will ever know unless they look at your marriage certificate versus the child's birth certificate.
It's just a nasty word. There is no brand that goes along with it. No records or anything.

Answer 7

The birth certificate.

Answer 8

doesn't matter if married or not. Those are old terms. Both you file out birth certificate

Answer 9

husband is the father? Make sure his name is on birth certifcate. Not sure what you can do to keep people from comparing dates.

Answer 10

I don't think so.