An Affidavit of Paternity is a voluntary, sworn declaration by a man admitting that he is the biological father of a specific child.
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In Nigeria, this document is of immense significance, particularly for children born out of wedlock.
Under Nigerian law, a child born to unmarried parents does not automatically have the father's name on their birth certificate unless the father formally acknowledges paternity.
This affidavit is the primary legal tool to establish that link.
Legitimacy and Rights
By swearing this affidavit, the father confers legitimacy on the child (or at least acknowledges the bloodline), which opens the door to the child's rights to inheritance, maintenance, and family name.
It is frequently used when a father wants to add his name to the child's birth certificate at the National Population Commission (NPC) or when he wants to apply for a visa for the child.
Dispute Resolution
This affidavit is also used to resolve family disputes.
If a man accepts a child that the mother's family claims is his, this affidavit formalizes that acceptance.
It must state the father's name, the child's name, the mother's name, and an unequivocal statement that he accepts full responsibility for the child.
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