Do I legally have to claim anyone as my baby's father on the birth certificate? I know I can't file for child support if I don't claim paternity, but in a case of custody, do I have to claim the father on the birth certificate?
2007-07-14 06:41:07 · 16 answers · asked by mums_the_word 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
No, you do not have to put a father on the birth certificate. However, if you DO know who the father is, you SHOULD write it on the birth certificate. It is an important matter of record and should not be omitted. One day the child will need to know, and the man should know as well.
When a baby is born to an unmarried mother, the mother can give the child a last name she chooses.
If a custody battle should arise later, a paternity test will be done and the certificate will be amended so if you know the facts now, might as well go ahead and record them and save trouble and money later.
2007-07-14 06:44:30 · answer #1 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not have to put a father on the birth certificate unless you are married. If you are then he is legally the father but if you are not you can leave him off. He can take you to court if he wants rights to the baby and the court will order paternity to verify he is the father but you otherwise do not have to put him on at the hospital.
I would recommend you putting him on however. If the baby is ever due any money because of his job or anything, if he is not on the birth certificate, the child will not get that money. Also, for health history the child should know about his father.
I process birth certificates for a hospital in Colorado and know these rules are for here so they may be different in your state. Contact the state department of public health and environment for your state. They are the agency that deals with birth certificates.
2007-07-14 13:48:31 · answer #2 · answered by sc1120 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where you are from, but here in California, you cannot put a man's name on a birth certificate. He has to sign papers saying that he's the father and he wants his name on it. But no, you don't have to put anyone's name on the b.c. I filed child support and the father's name wasn't even on the b.c. If he dispute paternity, that's what DNA tests are for. Give that child your last name if you don't want the dad's name on it.
2007-07-14 13:50:56 · answer #3 · answered by Vasilly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the birth certificate can remain blank until it becomes an issue for the court system. However, if things do go to custody a blood test will be required and the certificate will be changed afterwards.
2007-07-14 13:44:56 · answer #4 · answered by K 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could say "you dont know who it is" currently I'm going threw the same dilemma, if I do not say the father I cannot go on welfare, if I do say the father and he doesnt pay me that money is taken off my check and for custody reason I was worried but he cant touch you unless he proves your a threat to the baby, courts always go with the mother unless shes a danger tot he child, best wishes and I'm still undecided as well, good luck with whatever you choose, best wishes and still congrats!
2007-07-14 13:52:01 · answer #5 · answered by ☆Leanne☆ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, you don't (unless you're married and then I think you do). I wasn't married with my first - and he had left town!!! - so I didn't put him on there. Later I did do a paternity test naming him as the father and the just did a blood test so I could get child support........ I'm sure it's different at each hospital, but they just asked me if I wanted to put the father's name on there and I said 'no'. You could always just say "I don't know" and leave it at that :0) HTH
2007-07-14 13:47:09 · answer #6 · answered by lawgirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you do not have to put the fathers name on the birth certificate. If you want your baby to have your last name, then do not put the father. Good luck and best of health to you and your baby!
2007-07-14 13:46:16 · answer #7 · answered by Natasha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope, not in Wisconsin anyway. If he thinks he is the father and wants to have visitation he could contest it tho. He can have a blood test ordered to find out if he is the father and then take you to court for visitation.
If they press you for fathers name and you don't want to put the real father just tell them you dont know who the father is - you will look like a whore for a few days but if it is best for you and the baby then you do what you need to do.
2007-07-14 13:46:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably don't HAVE to if you tell them at the hospital that you don't know who the daddy is.However, it daddy requests a paternity test down the road because he wants to have custody or visitation of the child, you will have to put your little one through all the testing, which really isn't fair.
2007-07-14 13:45:25 · answer #9 · answered by wanting baby3 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no you do not half to put the fathers name but that still dose not change the legal issues although 99% of courts will never take the child from the mother you would half to be really screwed up and the other party have proof of it its almost impossibale for the mother to lose ther baby
2007-07-14 13:55:41 · answer #10 · answered by Dan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋