What is Paternity
Establishment?

Paternity means legal fatherhood. Paternity establishment is how a biological father becomes the legal father of his child if he and the mother are not married.

If you and your partner are not married, you must establish paternity before the father’s name can be placed on your child’s birth certificate.

Click below to learn more:

→ Paternity 101 for Parents

→ Information for Parents

The Importance
of Paternity

Establishing paternity gives both parents and their child the rights and opportunities they need and deserve.

For parents, establishing paternity:

• Ensures that both parents have custody and visitation rights

• Ensures that the father has the right to be notified of any plans to have the child adopted by someone else

• Ensures access to child support

For children, establishing paternity:

• Provides the opportunity to form a relationship with both parents

• Helps develop a sense of identity

• Provides access to both parents’ medical histories

• Provides access to health insurance and other financial benefits

Ways to
Establish Paternity

1. Certificate of Parentage:

Both parents can complete and sign a voluntary Certificate of Parentage (COP) form – it’s free!.

You can sign this form:

• At the hospital when your child is born

• After you leave the hospital at the State of New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, local registrar in the municipality in which your child was born or local child support office

2. Court Proceedings:

You can file a complaint for paternity establishment with the Family Court. Please visit the child support website to submit an application for paternity establishment or call 877-NJKIDS1 with any questions. You can also contact a private attorney for assistance.