Legal Definitions - presumed father

A presumed father is a male parent who is assumed to be the legal father of a child, even if he is not the biological father. This assumption is made based on certain circumstances, such as being married to the child's mother at the time of birth or having openly acknowledged the child as his own.

For example, if a married couple has a child, the husband is presumed to be the father of the child. Even if DNA testing later proves that he is not the biological father, he may still be considered the legal father if he has established a parental relationship with the child.

Another example is if a man openly acknowledges a child as his own and takes on the responsibilities of a father, such as providing financial support and participating in the child's upbringing. In this case, he may be presumed to be the father, even if there is no biological connection.

These examples illustrate how a presumed father can be someone who is not biologically related to a child, but is still considered the legal father due to certain circumstances and actions.