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PATERNITY
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
California’s Paternity Opportunity Program allows unmarried
parents to establish legal paternity for their child by
signing a document called a “Declaration of Paternity.”
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.
Visit California’s
POP
Program for more information and to access some forms.
Click Here
for Printable Version
Contact Siskiyou Modoc Regional
Department of Child Support Services
Yreka Office: 1215 S. Main St., Yreka, CA 96097, Phone: 1-866-901-3212
Modoc Office: 1030 N. Main St., Alturas, CA 96101, Phone 1-866-901-3212 |
