Family & Safety

If a person has not signed a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP) , they can disprove paternity. They can do so by filing a Petition to Establish the Non-Existence of a Parent-Child Relationship  in court. 

A parent who signed a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP) may want to undo it. They have to sign a Rescission of Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity or Rescission of Denial of Parentage form. This form must be signed, witnessed, and sent to the Department of Health and Family Services (HFS). HFS must get the form within 60 days from the effective date of either:

• the VAP and/or the Denial of Parentage (Denial), or
• the date of a proceeding relating to the child, whichever occurs first. 

After the time for a Rescission has expired, it is very hard to undo a VAP. The person must go to court and prove fraud, duress, or mistake of fact. Talk to a lawyer if you want to disprove paternity more than 60 days after you sign a VAP.