What is a Paternity case?
If a father is not listed on the birth certificate, the parents are not married and the parents have not signed an Acknowledgement of Parentage, a paternity action must be started. Contact the Department of Human Services (DPS) at 1-866-540-0008, they will take all the necessary information and make a referral to the FOC.
A paternity case is a legal proceeding brought to establish a legal father. It can be brought by the mother, father or the Department of Human Services (DHS). This case is different from a support case in that support cases already have legally established parents, paternity cases do not. Paternity cases establish legal parentage and the non-custodial parent’s obligation to pay support for the child. Unlike support cases, minors can be litigants in these cases. Where do I begin? You must first contact a Support Specialist at the DHS Office of Child Support. (The same place for support or interstate cases). Their number is: (866) 661-0005 ext 7187. The support specialist will then send a referral to the Family Support Division of the Prosecutors Office. If you are currently receiving any type of public assistance then you are required to cooperate or you may lose some or all of your benefits. However, the receipt of public assistance benefits IS NOT a requirement to be eligible for lega
When a child is born to parents who are not married to each other, the biological father is not considered the child’s legal parent unless the father has signed an “Acknowledgment of Paternity” (usually done at the hospital at the time of the child’s birth) declaring himself to be the child’s father, or an “order of filiation” has been entered, which is a court order that declares that person to be the legal father. A petition may be filed in Family Court seeking an order of filiation.
