If a father is not on the birth certificate and has had no contact for 8 years, does he have any rights to the child?

The issue of paternity begins on whether the parents signed a declaration of paternity, and whether the father qualifies as a presumed parent under the law. Most cases of presumed parent status involve the situation when the child was received into the father's home after the birth and held the child out to the public as his child. There are many other complexities to determining paternity. You should contact an attorney to discuss your particular circumstances.