A biological parent is a person who contributed genetic material to a child's conception. Biological connection is relevant to parentage but it does not by itself create legal parent status in every circumstance.

A biological father who has not established legal paternity has no enforceable parenting rights and no enforceable support obligation until paternity is legally established.

In cases involving assisted reproduction, surrogacy, and embryo donation the identity of the biological parent and the identity of the legal parent may not be the same person.