Voluntary Declaration Of Paternity:
When both unmarried parents sign a Declaration of Paternity,
it means they are the legal parents of the child. Signing
a Declaration of Paternity is voluntary.
The parents can sign a declaration at the hospital
or can get forms at their county's
- Local child support agency,
- Registrar of births, or
- Family law facilitator's office.
Click Here
for a sample form.
If the parents sign at the hospital, the father's
name will go on the child's birth certificate, and
the mother does not need to go to court to prove who
the father of the child is.
If they sign the declaration after the child's birth
certificate has been issued, a new birth certificate
can be issued with the father's name.
After a signed Declaration of Paternity is filed
with the court, the judge can make orders for custody,
visitation, and support. Click here for help getting
a custody/visitation order. Click here for help getting
a support order.
Child Support Agency Action: Your
local child support agency can bring an action to
establish the parentage of your child. As part of
this action, they will ask for a child support order.
This service is free.
Your local child support agency is part of the state
Department
of Child Support Services. Every county has a
local child support agency. The local agencies and
the department help parents support and provide health
insurance for their children.
To begin the process, call them and ask for an appointment
to open a case for parentage and support. Click
here to find the local child support agency in
your county.
Click
here to learn more about your local child support
agency and the Department of Child Support Services.
Go To Court Yoursesf: If you want
to handle your own case to establish parentage, you
will need to fill out, serve, and file several court
forms. You may also need to have a trial before a
judge.
