What is a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity?

A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity is a legal document that is signed by an unmarried father and mother of a child that establishes legal paternity. It is not necessary to go to court to establish paternity under this document. By signing this document, the father is agreeing to assume all parental rights and responsibilities of the child and is also taking financial and legal responsibility for the child. In North Carolina, a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity document is often referred to as an "affidavit of parentage." To be legally valid, both the father and the mother must sign the document and have the signatures acknowledged by a notary public. Once the document is signed, it can be used to obtain a birth certificate for the child and to obtain Social Security benefits for the child. When a father signs a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, he is not legally obligated to pay child support until a court formally orders him to do so. If the father and mother later decide to end their relationship and the father does not believe he is the biological father of the child, he may rescind his acknowledgment of paternity.

Related FAQs

What legal rights does the mother have in a paternity case?
Can a paternity test be done without the father's consent?
How do I contest a paternity test result?
How do I collect child support if the father is not legally established?
How is the father's income taken into consideration when determining child support?
Can a father establish paternity after the mother's death?
How long does a paternity suit take to resolve?
What happens if the father does not appear for the court hearing?
Is there any way to challenge a court-ordered paternity test?
Can an ex-partner contest paternity after the child's birth?

What is a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts