child custody and child support

I just found out through a DNA test that i have a daughter. Her mom waited all this time to tell me that i even have a daughter, now my daughter is 3 1/2. Since i found out i've been seeing my daughter on my days off and giving her mom money for child support. My question is, legally i dont have any rights or any papers that say i'm her father. My question is, do i have to go to court to get my name on the birth certificate? Also she is not stoping me from seeing my daughter and she is not asking for child support do we need to go to court to get joint custody and if we do are they going to make me pay child support?

[tbyte]

Getting your name on the birth certificate is a mere formality.
Being formally recognized as the father is what is important.
You need to file a motion with the court asserting that you believe yourself to be the father of the child, along with a notorized affidavit detailing the supporting facts.
In your motion, you need to request that child support be set, and that you be granted shared custody.
Please understand...at this time the mother is allowing you to see your child. But I can tell you with near absolute 100% certainty that in her heart she does not believe you have any rights to the child as a father. If she did, she would not have waited four years to tell you the news.
I only wish it were possible to prosecute women like this for intentional infliction of emotional distress, or denial of companionship with your child. They have NO right to keep your child from you, with your knowledge or without.