Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit

The Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit is for women who are not married at the time of the child's birth, or has not been married within 300 days from the date of conception. This document is generated from either the hospital at the time of the child’s birth, local health department, or a Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). If the mother is married and the husband is not the father of the child, the mother and the biological father can contact the CSEA for genetic testing. The CSEA has the authority to order Vital Statistics to remove the husband's information based on their findings, and put the biological father's information on the birth certificate using the Determination of Paternity form.

The biological father and mother must complete an affidavit to be placed on the original birth certificate. No signatures of the parents are required on the original birth certificate.

This document can do the following:

1. Add a father to the original birth certificate when there is no father listed on the birth certificate, and also change the child's name when form is completed correctly.

2. Change the child's name if the same father is listed on the original birth certificate. It cannot change the child's name if another father is listed on the record.

3. If a father has not been listed on a birth record, an Acknowledgement of Paternity Affidavit can be used until the child turns 23.

4. The form must be completed accurately. The child's name at birth and the child's name change must be indicated correctly. All dates and names should be clear and correct. Each parent has 60 days from the date of the last signature in which to rescind the Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit. The parent(s) should contact their local Child Support Enforcement Agency to complete the proper rescission form.

5. Acknowledgment of Paternity forms are sent to the Central Paternity Registry and then to Vital Statistics. If you need to contact our office regarding your Acknowledgment of Paternity document, contact the Central Paternity Registry first to obtain the number assigned to your child's document.

** Please Note: You cannot remove a father from your child's birth certificate with this document.

Last Reviewed: 7/31/08