Dear 40 year old woman,

You have confided to me that you are single and you are six
months pregnant. Also, you said that the father-to-be of the baby
you are bearing is your 19-year old boyfriend. You mentioned to me
that you are in love with your 19-year old boyfriend but you know
that his family will not accept you.
You told me that you want to know about the status of your child
when it will come out of your womb. You are also concerned about
the remedy of you and your boyfriend getting married.
Let me first discuss to you about the status of your child. If your
child is born after you get married with your boyfriend, your child
will be legitimate. He will have the right to bear the surname of his
father. He is entitled also to receive support from his parents,
grandparents, his brothers or sisters. He will be entitiled also to the
successional rights granted by law.
On the other hand, if your child will be born without the
marriage of his parents, he will be illegitimate. He will be using your
surname. However, he may also use the surname of his father if his
father will recognize the child. Also, if your child will be illegitimate,
he is only entitled to one-half of the legitime of a legitimate child.
For example, if your boyfriend will marry another woman and they
will have a child and will inherit 1 million, your child will only be
entitled of half of it.
So, if you get married before your child is born, your child will be
protected by the law as legitimate. If you will not have the chance
to get married before your child is born, I am sad to say that your
child will be illegitimate.
You should not worry because there is great chance that your
child will be legitimate. If not, the father can acknowledge the child.