Akon Files for Paternity, Wants Kids to Keep His Name

By Andrew Lu on September 10, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Akon has filed paternity documents in a Georgia court claiming he is the father of two children born out of wedlock.

In a refreshing twist, the rapper/singer is actually fighting to be named the father of the children instead of trying to avoid the responsibilities (and expenses) that come with fathering a child.

In fact, Akon is even asking that a court consider his high income in determining how much child support he'll have to pay, reports TMZ.

Akon's paternity suit seeks to grant him joint legal custody of two minor sons born in 2008 and 2009, reports TMZ. If granted joint legal custody, Akon can be involved in all major decisions involving the children like which schools and churches they attend, and even their vacation plans. But the children will still primarily live with their mother who will have physical custody of the children.

Along with having the ability to participate and have a say in the children's upbringing, Akon is also asking a court to allow the children to be able to inherit from him and to keep his last name Thiam, reports TMZ. (Akon's full legal name is Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam.)

While Akon's filing of paternity documents was definitely admirable, it's not clear if it was absolutely necessary. That's because a father doesn't always have to take official legal steps like filing paternity documents to be considered the legal parent of a child.

In general, if a man openly raises a child and acknowledges that the child is his, he may already be considered the legal father under some states' laws. As Akon has previously said he fathered multiple children with different women, and TMZ reports that he has acted as the children's father since they were born, Akon may have already been considered the children's father prior to filing the paternity documents.

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