How Unmarried Parents Establish Paternity

By Laura Fishman


  • If a child is born to unwed parents but the parents later marry, they can sign a notarized “Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity” form to be filed with the state.
  • If the unmarried mother and father agree to paternity, both parents can sign a “Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity” at the hospital or birthing center when the child is born, or both can sign a notarized “Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity” after the child is born. The father’s name is then added to the birth certificate. Oregon honors a voluntary acknowledgment made in another state.

Genetic, or DNA, testing is most common form of paternity testing. Courts have authority to order a potential father of a child to undergo genetic testing to determine whether he is or is not the father of a child. Courts can then enter a judgment reflecting the findings of a paternity test. In some circumstances, a court can also hear documentary and testimonial evidence when making a paternity determination.