Dr. Matisa Wilbon and Kenneth Braswell on Georgia’s Legitimation and the Fight for Fathers’ Rights

In this special episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, is joined by researcher and sociologist Dr. Matisa Wilbon to discuss the often-overlooked issue of legitimation in the state of Georgia—a legal process that determines a father's right to custody and decision-making for his child if he is not married to the mother.

Through a detailed presentation and moving personal testimonies, the episode sheds light on how Georgia remains the only state that separates paternity from legal fatherhood, leaving countless fathers without any legal standing in their children's lives—even if they are on the birth certificate or paying child support.

Dr. Wilbon presents findings from her research brief on the link between legitimation, father engagement, and youth academic outcomes, while the video features fathers sharing the emotional toll, legal confusion, and financial barriers they’ve faced. This episode is a critical call to action for policymakers, practitioners, and communities to support legal reform and greater access for fathers striving to be present in their children’s lives.

Learn more at: https://fathersincorporated.com
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