Ok. Why "legitimize" a child?

[Canada]

Hi. I am somewhat confused. Wifey went to amphur today to ask about this. She was told that there was no reason to as I am registered on the birth certificate, we are married and I am recognized as a legal parent of the child.

Can someone enlighten me as to why I would need to do this? Child is 1 month old and has Thai birth certificate.

[Costas2008]

OP, please forgive my ignorance, but if you are registered on the birth certificate, you are married and you are recognized as the legal parent of the child, how else are you going to legitimize your child?

[Canada]

Not sure. I've read that fathers typically need to go to the amphur to do "something" in terms of paperwork to "legitimize" the child. Doesn't make sense to me either. Perhaps, I've misunderstood or it's only in cases where the parents were not married before the birth of the child or in cases where custody and/or guardianship needs to be determined. I'm hoping someone can clarify this for me.

[Canada]

Also being recognised as the father is what wifey tells me that someone\ at the amphur told her. Not sure how accurate that is. What she said in Thai to me was that I have the right of being the father of the child as my name is on the birth certificate.

[TobiasML]

If you are married you are going to be the legal father once your child is born. No need to do anything. You only need to legitimize the child if you are not legally married.

[Mario2008]

Legitimization is only needed when the mother is not married. When the mother is married, the husband is automatically considered to be the father of the child without the need to legitimize the child.

When married the law presumes the husband is the father, when the mother is not married no such presumption can be made thus the need for legitimization,

[apiwan]

You don't need to do anything if married.

However should you divorce that's a different story.

Then you will need Thai visa. More than ever.

[Canada]

Ok. Thank you for clarifying that for me.