Historically, children born outside formal marriage faced stigma and legal disadvantages. Modern law increasingly rejects this approach, emphasising that a child should not suffer for circumstances of birth. Many systems now recognise strong rights for children born out of wedlock, especially in terms of identity and support.
Biological parents generally have obligations to maintain and support their children, regardless of marital status. Children may have rights to use the father’s name, seek acknowledgment of paternity and claim maintenance or support through legal processes.
Inheritance rights vary by jurisdiction and personal law, but trends are moving towards greater equality. In some systems, such children can inherit from the mother fully and, under certain conditions, from the father once paternity is legally established.
Documents like birth certificates, court declarations and maintenance orders become important evidence. Social attitudes may take time to change, but law sends a clear message: the child’s dignity and security come first.