Is it possible to establish paternity before the child is born?

Yes, it is possible to establish paternity before a child is born in New York. This is done through a process called voluntary acknowledgement of paternity (VAP). In order for a man to be legally determined as the father of a child before it is born, both the mother and the father must sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity form. This form identifies the man as the legal father of the child and gives him all of the same rights and liabilities associated with paternity. The form must then be filed with the New York State Department of Health and the local registrar. These signatures also allow the father to be named on the birth certificate, which is important for the child receiving rights being the son or daughter of the father, such as Social Security benefits, inheritance rights, or other parental rights. It is important to note that signing the Acknowledgement of Paternity form does not establish a father’s legal parental rights to the child. If the mother and father become separated, the father will not have the legal rights to custody or visitation without taking further legal action. Furthermore, the Paternity Acknowledgment form does not create an obligation for the father to pay child support. A court or the Child Support Office must be contacted in order to legally establish child support. In some cases, failing to establish paternity prior to the birth of the child can result in complications regarding legal rights to the child in the future. It is therefore advantageous to establish paternity prior to the birth of the child.

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Is it possible to establish paternity before the child is born?

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