Paternity Information
If you are not married, you have several options regarding paternity. The following is information that may help you decide which of these options to choose.
An unmarried mother may give a child any last name she chooses. However, by Oregon law, the name of the father can only be added to a birth certificate after paternity papers are signed.
Paternity can be established in several ways:
1. The easiest way is for both parents to sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity at the hospital when your baby is born. If both parents sign this document while the mother is still admitted, the father’s name will be added to the birth certificate at no charge.
This form cannot be used if the mother was married at the time of the child’s birth. Upon request, hospital staff will provide you a form and can help you complete it. Once the form is processed, the birth certificate with the father’s name on it will be issued.
2. If paternity was not established at the hospital, parents can sign a form called a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity affidavit. You can get this form from the agencies listed on the next page.
A fee is charged to add the father’s name to the birth certificate once the original birth certificate has been filed with the Center for Health Statistics. If you are receiving any type of public assistance, the state will pay this fee.
This form cannot be used if the mother was married any time between becoming pregnant and the time of the child’s birth or if the birth occurred within 300 days of the termination of the marriage.
3. If the father or the mother doesn’t agree to paternity, either parent can ask the Child Support Program (CSP) for services.
If your child receives public assistance from the Department of Human Services (DHS), medical assistance from the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), foster care, and/or Child Welfare Services (CW) through DHS, or juvenile care from Oregon Youth Authority (OYA), your child support case should be referred to the Department of Justice, Division of Child Support (DCS) automatically.
If your child does not receive public assistance, you can apply for services with your local county District Attorney (DA) or DCS office. Also, either parent may talk to a lawyer. To find out who to call, see the following contact information on the next page.
Have questions, or need further information?
1. Read You Owe it to Your Child, Paternity Information for Mothers and Fathers published by the Department of Human Resources, Oregon Department of Justice. The brochure is also available at the Department of Justice Web site, www.dcs.state.or.us/publications.
2. Other sources of information:
Marion County Vital Statistics
3180 Center St. NE #2274
Salem, OR 97301
503-588-5406
Oregon Center for Health Statistics
800 NE Oregon Suite 225
PO Box 14050
Portland, OR 97293-0050
From Salem area — 503-378-5567
Outside Salem area —800-850-0228 (toll free in Oregon)
From outside Oregon — 503-378-5567
TTY Number — 503-945-5928
Web site: www.doj.state.or.us/divisions/child support_index.shtml
County District Attorney Offices in Salem Area
Marion County — 503-588-5222
Polk County — 503-623-9269
Yamhill County — 503-434-7511
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