Like every other state in the country, there are parental rights in Georgia for those who were or were not married when they became parents. Many people mistakenly believe that they must have a stronger legal ground than simple paternity in order claim their parental rights, but that is not the case. Single parents have exactly the same parental rights in Georgia as those who have been married. There may be some difficulties due to the need for paternity certification, but once this has been established, a biological parent has many acknowledged rights under state law. For example, a parent has the right to establish formal visitation arrangements, or they may even sue for custody if they would prefer a more active and authoritative role in the life of their child. Though one parent is usually labeled as the "custodial" parent, this does not mean that the other parent has no voice or authority.