[bombcar]

Some states go the other way - if you (as the father, maybe the mother but that's pretty easy to verify I hear) sign the birth certificate you are the father (Maury) for all legal purposes even if you're not - wether knowingly or not.

[giantg2]

Yes, most states see it that way. But you could still make them the legal father through adoption (like with step parents) without providing inaccurate information on the birth certificate.

[em-bee]

isn't that fraud?

[giantg2]

The state doesn't care about fraud when it benefits the state (a man paying support vs the state paying benefits).