Back in 2020, the late Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame revealed that he had a daughter in addition to his four sons. Recently, it’s come out that his daughter had filed a paternity case a few years prior to his death. The court filings have shed some light on the father and daughter’s relationship and history, as well as her relationship with the family.
Phil Robertson’s Daughter Filed A Paternity Case Back In 2023
Tragically, Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame passed away on May 25, 2025. The Robertson patriarch, who had previously been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, was 79 at the time of his death.
As Duck Dynasty fans know, Phil married his wife, “Ms. Kay,” in 1964 and the two had four sons together: Alan, Jase, Willie, and Jep. In addition, they also share a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
As noted by The U.S. Sun, back in 2020, Phil also revealed that he had a daughter, Phyllis. Reportedly, his daughter “was conceived during an affair while married to his wife Kay.”
According to the publication, Phyllis also filed paternity court papers back in 2023. The papers explain that Phyllis was born during her own mother’s marriage to her then-husband, who was listed as the father on her birth certificate.
As the papers read, “Phil Alexander Robertson is the biological father of Petitioner. Mr. Robertson and Mrs. Harvey had a sexual relationship in late 1974, early 1975, which resulted in the conception and birth of Phyllis Annette Harvey.” It was also noted that “Mr. Robertson did not know about the pregnancy or birth.”
Phyllis’ mother’s husband at the time “raised the child as his own.” It wasn’t until Phyllis had her DNA tested through Ancestry DNA that she learned the Robertson patriarch might be her biological father.
The court filing claimed that Phyllis then contacted Phil. A DNA test performed in early 2020 indicated a “99.99 percent probability that he is her biological father.”
The Filing Also Revealed Details On Phyllis’ Relationship With Her Father & The Duck Dynasty Family
According to the filing, Phyllis started to build up a relationship with her biological father. It read, “They have since developed and currently enjoy a close, father/daughter relationship. Phil invited Phyllis and her husband to move to West Monroe to live near him and their family.”
The filing also claimed Phyllis had also grown closer to the Robertson family. It continued, “Phyllis attends church and all family functions, and celebrates all aspects of family with them. She has great love and affection for her father and for the rest of her newfound family.”
Phyllis requested for her birth name to be changed to Phyllis Annette Robertson. She also asked that her birth certificate be changed to name Phil as her father.
Phil’s Acknowledgment of Paternity filing read, “Appearer herein has developed a father/daughter relationship with Phyllis Thomas and he has welcomed her into the family. Appearer acknowledges the great love and affection he has for his daughter, and he desires for her to have his full name on her birth certificate as her father and for her to have her maiden name changed to Robertson.” According to the publication, the court approved the request, listing Phil as Phyllis’ father and changing her birth name.
The Duck Dynasty Patriarch Revealed He Had A Daughter On The Family’s Podcast
Previously, Phil revealed he had a daughter in 2020 during an episode of the family’s “Unashamed” podcast. At the time, Phil shared, “It’s a pretty cool explanation of redemption, reconciliation, love,”
“As it turns out, 45 years, you have a daughter that you don’t know about, and she has a father she doesn’t know about. Forty-five years, that doesn’t sound like very long but you say, that’s a while. So finally, after all those years, we come together.”
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John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.