Unmarried dads must demonstrate paternity in Washington, like in other states, in order to be recognized as the child's legal parent. Even though he is the child's biological father and has adopted a paternal role in the child's upbringing, an unmarried father will not automatically get parental rights unless paternity is established. In certain places, such as Michigan, an unwed mother is believed to have only initial custody, rather than exclusive custody, even if the father is not named on the birth certificate and has never signed a formal acknowledgement of parentage to prove paternity or legal fatherhood. Unfortunately, the legal system is still predicated on the notion that a child's parents are lawfully married. If the father isn't identified on the birth certificate and doesn't want to be a part of the kid's life, this might generate a lot of problems concerning child custody for single mothers.