What is a Declaration of Paternity? The Declaration of Paternity is a legal form that, when signed by both parents, says the man is the legal father. Signing the form will legally establish the man as the child’s father without having to go to court. Signing the form allows a father’s name to be placed on his child’s birth certificate. It should be signed only by the biological parents of a child. This is a voluntary process. Unless the parents of the child are legally married to each other, the father’s name will not be added to the birth certificate unless they (1) sign a Declaration of Paternity in the hospital or (2) sign the form later or legally establish paternity through the courts and pay a fee to amend the birth certificate. Note: if the mother is married, there is a legal presumption that her husband is the child’s father, and paternity must be established through a court process.

The Declaration of Paternity forms are available at hospitals and clinics at the time of the child’s birth. Signing the form in the hospital is a quick, easy, and free way to have the father’s name added to his child’s birth certificate. If you wish to sign the POP form after the birth of the child, your local Registrar of Births, public assistance offices, child support offices and Family Law Facilitator can help you sign and file the Declaration of Paternity.