Two parents and child

Family & Safety

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Paternity or parentage
Parentage is the legal relationship between a child and a parent. Parentage needs to be established before child support, parenting time, or decision-making power can be ordered.
My rights and responsibilities once parentage is established
A parent has the right to parenting time (visitation) with a child. They can also ask for decision-making power over the child. They must also pay child support.
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Establishing parentage
(19 resources)
Starting a case for parentage in court
Steps to establish parentage from the forms you need to the court hearing process.
How-To
Parentage and allocation petition for father
Use this form to ask a judge to establish parentage if you think you are the father of a child.
Form download
Voluntary acknowledgment of parentage or VAP basics
A VAP is a legal form that establishes a legal relationship between a parent and a child. Both parents must sign the form. Once it is signed, it is very hard to undo.
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Parentage and allocation petition for mother
Use this form to ask a judge to establish parentage if you are the mother of a child.
Form download
Voluntary acknowledgment of paternity - VAP
A program to help you complete the forms to acknowledge that someone is the father of a child.
Easy Form
Parentage basics
Explains that parentage is a legal relationship between a parent and a child, and the responsibilities of that relationship.
Guide
Parentage summons
Use this form to let the other party know that you have filed a parentage case.
Form download
Application for a search of birth record files
Use this form to request a birth certificate from the state.
Form link
Parental responsibilities or custody in same-sex marriages
A birthing parent's partner can become a child's legal parent, and couples without a birthing parent can adopt a child.
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What is a paternity test?
A paternity test compares the DNA of a child, mother, and an alleged father to see if the man is or is not the biological father of a child.
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Putative father basics
A putative father is a man who might be a child's biological father, but is not yet the legal father. For example, if a man has sex with a woman who he is not married to, and that woman later has a child, that man would be a putative father.
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I want a person's name removed or put on a birth record
Options for changing a birth record if paternity has been established or rejected.
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Response to petition for parentage and allocation
Use this form to respond to a Petition for Parentage and Allocation that you received.
Form download
Starting a case to disprove paternity
Steps to disprove paternity whether a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP) has or has not been signed.
How-To
Notice to presumed parent
Use this form to tell the presumed parent of the child that you are filing a parentage and allocation petition.
Form download
Starting a case for parentage through DHFS
Steps to establish parentage through a hearing and genetic testing with Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
How-To
Establishing parentage when the mother agrees
If the mother agrees that you are a parent of their child, you can both sign a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Parentage (VAP) to establish parentage. If it is only signed by one parent, it is not official.
How-To
Registering with the Putative Father Registry
Steps to register with the Putative Father Registry to have a say in whether a child is adopted.
How-To
Affidavit of last known address of a presumed parent
Use this form to tell the judge the last known address of a presumed parent.
Form download
Fighting parentage
(3 resources)
Undoing a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (VAP)
Options for giving up a legal relationship with a child after the legal form has already been signed by both parents.
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Denial of parentage
Use this form to deny that you are the parent of a child.
Form link
Petition to challenge VAP
Use this form to challenge a voluntary acknowledgement of parentage (VAP).
Form download