FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PARANTAGE

When parents are unmarried or in a same-sex relationship, parentage is not established automatically. In these situations, parentage may be established by signing a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage.  To qualify to sign this Declaration, one signer must be the parent who gave birth to the child, the other signer must be either: (1) The only possible father of the child who is not married to the birth parent; OR (2) Someone who is an intended parent of the child based on an assisted reproduction agreement and the child was conceived through assisted reproduction where the donor was not the spouse of the birth parent.

The Parentage Opportunity Program (POP) administers the Voluntary Declaration of Parentage process so a birth parent and other parent can establish legal parentage of their child free of charge.

Parents must use either the Declaration process offered through the Parentage Opportunity Program or go to court to establish parentage.  The Parentage Opportunity Program is faster and requires less money than establishing legal parentage through the courts.  In most cases, a signed and filed Declaration has the same force and effect as a judgment for parentage issued by a court.

Parents and agencies can reach Parentage Opportunity Program staff Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. by phone and email. Our toll-free phone number is (866) 249-0773 (select option 3, and then select option 5), and email is askpop@dcss.ca.gov. Emails and voicemails left after business hours will be returned within three business days.

The Parentage Opportunity Program is not involved in the genetic testing process. As the Declaration must be voluntary (of your own free will), if there is any doubt about who the parent of the child is and you would like genetic testing; do not sign the Declaration, but instead ask for genetic testing.  Genetic testing may not be requested by parents who have signed the Voluntary Declaration of Parentage once it has been filed. Please contact your county’s child support agency to request information regarding genetic testing.

Upon the birth of a child, parents will be provided an opportunity to complete a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage at the birthing hospital. Parents may get a blank form from their local child support agency, local court or Family Law Facilitator, local registrar of births and deaths, and their local welfare office.  Parents may also contact the Parentage Opportunity Program at askpop@dcss.ca.gov to request a blank form. The Declaration is not available electronically. Therefore, you must provide program staff with a complete mailing address. A Declaration form can only be mailed to the address provided.

No. A Voluntary Declaration of Parentage may be completed any time after the child’s birth, provided that none of the disqualifying circumstances described in the form apply.

In California, authorized witnesses from agencies such as birthing hospitals, family law facilitators, local registrars of births & deaths, local child support agencies, local welfare offices or notary public officials are qualified to witness a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage. When signing a Declaration outside the State of California, a notary public is the only permissible authorized witness, and a fee for notary services may be charged. If you live in another country and notary services are not available, the Declaration can be witnessed by the local Consulate’s Office.  A Voluntary Declaration of Parentage form must be completed, signed by both parents with signatures properly witnessed, and filed with the California Department of Child Support Services before legal parentage is established.

Once the completed, signed, and witnessed Voluntary Declaration of Parentage is received, the Parentage Opportunity Program takes an average of 14-21 business days to process the form. If this time frame has passed, parents can call the program’s toll-free line at (866) 249-0773 for a status update to confirm the Declaration has been processed. Parents can also obtain a free, certified copy of the filed Declaration by submitting a Request for a Filed Declaration of Parentage (DCSS 0918) form.

No. Requests are fulfilled in the order they are received and all requests for certified copies are processed within 5 business days.

Eligible parents can complete a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage even if they live outside of California, however each parent must have their signature on the Declaration witnessed by a notary public or if in another country, your local Consulate’s Office.

Federal law requires states to legally recognize an establishment of paternity from another state.  However, it is an open question whether one state will legally recognize the establishment of parentage from another state.  Please contact your local Family Law Facilitator for clarification regarding parentage establishment in your state.

The Parentage Opportunity Program returns a rejected Voluntary Declaration of Parentage with a letter stating the reason(s) the Declaration has been rejected and includes a blank form to complete and re-submit for filing. Common errors that result in a rejected Declaration include either parent not using an authorized witness or an invalid notary certification.  If parents have additional questions regarding a rejected Declaration, they can call the Parentage Opportunity Program toll-free line at (866) 249-0773 for assistance.

No corrections or changes of any type may be made to a filed Voluntary Declaration of Parentage, as it is a legal document. Within 60 days of the latest signing of the Declaration, the birth parent or other parent can complete and file a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage Rescission (form DCSS 0915) to legally cancel the Declaration unless a court order for custody, visitation, or child support has been entered naming the signer who wants to cancel as a parent. The rescission form can be found on this website at the Parentage Forms and Information page.

To obtain a free, certified copy of a filed Voluntary Declaration of Parentage, please submit a notarized “Request for a Filed Voluntary Declaration of Parentage” (form DCSS 0918) to:

Parentage Opportunity Program at P.O. Box 419070, Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9070. 

Upon receipt, the request will be processed within 5 business days and mailed to the address provided on the form or faxed to the fax number provided on the form.

No, signing a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage does not automatically initiate any wage garnishment or child support process. California Family Code Section 7572(b) contains important information on parents’ rights and responsibilities associated with signing a Declaration of Parentage. For additional information regarding any financial aspect of the child support process, including questions regarding wage garnishment/child support, please contact your county child support agency through the automated Customer Service phone line at (866) 901-3212.

No, filing a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage will not automatically change the name on a birth certificate. Please contact the California Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records to obtain additional information regarding the process to change the name listed on a birth certificate. You may contact the Office of Vital Records at (916) 445-2684, by email at VRmail@cdph.ca.gov.

The Parentage Opportunity Program recommends that you secure a copy of the Voluntary Declaration of Parentage and read the instructions which outline qualifying and disqualifying circumstances. If you need further assistance, contact askpop@dcss.ca.gov, phone 916-464-1982, Fax 916-464-5898.

Anyone can submit a completed and witnessed Voluntary Declaration of Parentage to the Parentage Opportunity Program. This includes authorized witnessing agencies and parents. Originals of all completed forms should be mailed to:

Parentage Opportunity Program, P.O. Box 419070, Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9070

California law authorizes only parents, the child, the local child support agency, the county welfare department, the county counsel, the State Department of Health Services, and the courts to receive certified copies of filed Voluntary Declaration of Parentage forms. Statutorily authorized agencies wanting to request a copy of a filed Declaration may use the “Authorized Agency Request for Copy of a Filed Voluntary Declaration of Parentage” (form DCSS 0919).

Agencies should utilize Publication Order (form DCSS 0596) to order blank copies of Voluntary Declaration of Parentage forms.  The forms are provided to agencies free of charge and are available in English and Spanish. Order forms can be requested by emailing askpop@dcss.ca.gov. Please submit the order form using the contact options listed on the form, or by emailing askpop@dcss.ca.gov.  

When the birth parent is married, a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage is only permissible in cases of sperm or egg donation assisted reproduction in which the donor is not the spouse of the birth parent.

No, there is no nationwide database to lookup a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage completed outside of California. Each state maintains its own separate database.