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Oregon Health Authority

Paternity: Process to Add or Remove a Father or Second Biological Parent

According to Oregon law, those wanting to amend a birth record must complete an application, prove their eligibility, and when required, provide evidence documents to support the correction or change to the record. For more information, see ORS 432.098, ORS 432.245, OAR 333-011-0265 and OAR 333-011-0270.
If you need a copy of a current birth certificate, you can order one from our home page. You will be able to exchange one certificate free of charge for an amended certificate within one year of issuance date. 
For simplicity and clarity, throughout this webpage we use the term "Father," which mirrors the language on current legal forms. "Father" includes the biological non-birth parent regardless of their gender.

​Acknowledgment of Paternity/Parentage:

The Acknowledgment of Paternity establishes legal and biological parentage for a child whose birth mother/birthing parent was not married. Once legal parentage is established, the name of the father/second parent and information about the father/second parent is entered on a child's birth record​​.


Affidavit:

A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court or for legal purposes. When an affidavit is signed, a Notary must be present as an official, impartial witness in order for the document to be legally valid.


Affirm:

A formal declaration that an affidavit is true.


Amendment/Amend:

Changing or correcting a record by adding, subtracting, or substituting information​ on the record.


Applicant:

The eligible person submitting the application to change the registrant's record.


Birthing Facility:

Any​ place where a child is born. This includes hospitals, free-standing birthing facilities, or at home if using a certified or licensed midwife.​​


​Birth Mother/Person Who Gave Birth:

The person who carried the baby and gave birth.


Birth Record/Birth Certificate:

The birth record is the information of live birth that is registered with the state. The birth certificate is a ​certified copy of the original record printed on security paper.​


Certified:

A document with an official stamp or signature attesting that is authentic.


Court Order/Judgment:

The final decision of a court case that determines that rights and obligations of the people involved. Both terms are considered to mean the same thing for the purposes of this web page and normally refers to a printed version of the final decision.


Disestablish:

A legal process that formally recognizes and declares a father or presumed parent is not a parent​ (by court order/judgment). A person named as father on the birth record must be disestablished before paternity can be established by a different father.


Father/Second Parent: 

The biological non-birth parent.

​

Filiation: 

A legal means of establishing paternity by court order/judgment. It is a different process than the Acknowledgment of Paternity described on this page and it is also a different legal process than Adoption. The Center for Health Statistics has no authority over these court proceedings.​

​

Medical Facts of Birth:

The child's date of birth, time of birth, and sex determined at birth.

​

Notary:

A person who is authorized by the state to act as an official witness to the signing of legal documents by verifying the identity of those​​ who sign.


Original:

The first created document or item that is NOT a copy, scan, fax or email.


​​Paternity: 

Establishing paternity is the process of determining who is the legal father of a child​.


Presumed Parent:

​The person married to the birth mother/birthing parent at the time of the child's birth, or within 300 days of the birth, is considered​ by law to be the father/second parent unless there has been a judgment of separation. See ORS 109.​​​070.​


Registrant:

The person whose record is being changed. For birth records, this may also be called “person on record," “child on record," or “child."

​

Sealed File:

A ​​file that is kept confidential and not available​ to the public. Typically, even the person named on the record (registrant) must get a court order to access the file.


Typographical:​

Typed or printed text.

  • Was the birth mother married during the pregnancy (300 days prior to date of birth)?

    If yes, the father currently named on the record may need to be disestablished by court judgment before a different father can be added. For more information, click here:

      • Checklist to Add or Remove a Father on a Record

    • Meet Eligibility Requirement to Add or Remove a Father and, if Necessary, Provide Proof of Eligibility.
      See the following for information about who is eligible to add a father to a record and documentation that may be required.

      ​Self:

      If the name on your ID matches the name of the child on the record nothing else is required. If not, you will be asked to submit documentation of a legal name change such as a copy of your marriage certificate, a court ordered name change, or other legal documents to show the name changing.​​​​​​


      If you were married in Oregon, Oregon Vital Records can do a search for your marriage record. If you were married out of state, you must provide an original marriage certificate as proof of name change. (This is not the commemorative certificate completed at the wedding ceremony, but a printed document from the state's Vital Records Office.) ​


      Parent:

      If the name on your ID matches one of the parents named on the certificate, nothing else is required.

       

      If the name on your ID does not match what is currently listed on the birth certificate, proof of how your name was changed must be submitted.

       

      For example, a court ordered name change or a name changed through marriage or divorce.​


      If you were married in Oregon, Oregon Vital Records can do a search for your marriage record. If you were married out of state, you must provide an original marriage certificate as proof of name change. (This is not the commemorative certificate completed at the wedding ceremony, but a printed document from the state's Vital Records Office.) ​

      Legal Guardia​n or Agency having Custody of the Child on the Record:

      A valid copy of court guardianship papers naming you as legal guardian of the child is required.​

      Government Agency:

      "Government Agency" means a unit of federal, state, local or tribal government. ​ORS 432.005(12).​

      ​

      The following items are required:

      • A copy of an ID card issued by your government agency that contains your full name and photograph.

      • A valid copy of the jurisdiction and disposition order showing that the agency has the legal authority to amend the child's record.

      Legal Representative:

      ​"Legal representative" means a licensed attorney representing the registrant or other qualified applicant. ORS 432.005(21).​

      ​

      A valid copy of court records or legal documentation that authorizes you to act on behalf of the child or another eligible person OR a statement on company letterhead explaining who you represent and their relationship to the child is required.

      ​

      If you are representing another person,​ documents that prove their eligibility will also be required.


      • Provide Birth Order Form
      • Birth Order Form: Spanish (Formulario de solicitud de certificado de Nacimiento de Oregón)

      ​​​Acceptable Proof of ID​


      ​Provide a copy of acceptable proof of ID with your order form.

      ​Important:​​


      • Words must be legible and photo must be clear.

      • Expired documents are not acceptable.


      Any ​ONE ​of the following documents are acceptable:

      ​​

      1. ​ ​​Current, valid driver's license, permit, or ID card.


      2. Current, valid passport or passport card with photo.

      3. Tribal Membership or ID card with photo and address (without photo accepted as one of three pieces of ID).

      4. ​U.S. Armed Services ID Card with photo.

      5. Current student body card with name and photo (high school students only).

      6. Consulate Card (Matrícula Consular) with photo and address.

      7. Citizen ID with photo.


      8. Permanent Resident Card with photo.

      9. Employment Authorization Document/Card (EAD) with photo.​

        ​

      10. ​State or federal government ID badge with photo.

      ​

      OR...


      Any THREE of the following documents, as long as at least one shows your current​ address:


      1. ​​​Selective Service Card or military discharge paper (must be original).


      2. U.S. Immigration or naturalization papers.


      3. Concealed weapon permit with photo.

      4. Official papers issued by courts of record which include date of birth.

      5. Official corrections department or parole papers showing date of birth and full name.

      6. Vehicle registration or title.

      7. Personalized check or savings account passbook.

      8. Monthly banking or mortgage account statement (Document must be no more than 30 days old).

      9. Pistol or firearms permit.

      10. State hunting or fishing license.

      11. Recent utility or other bill with current address (Document must be no more than 30 days old).

      12. Recent paycheck stub or paycheck (official company type only). (Document must be no more than 30 days old.)

      13. Company identification card.

      14. Voter registration card issued by a county elections department.

      15. Valid food stamp, welfare, or unemployment identification.

      16. Medical or hospital insurance card.

      17. Tax statements – W-2 forms, etc.

      18. Auto insurance policy.

      19. Union membership card.

      20. Rental agreement that displays the rental property header/logo, is the current property of ​​​residence, is signed by the property manager, and shows that ID verification has taken place.​


      If​ there are differences between information provided and information on the record, or questions about the validity of any document, staff are authorized to request additional information or documents.
      ​

      A printable version of the identifying documents list is available in both ​​English and Spanish​.​


      Provide Paternity Affidavit or Original Court Documents

      Provide a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit Form
      Before signing the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form, both parents must read or hear the Rights and Responsibilities section of the form.

      When completing any affidavit of form that needs to be notarized, ​do the following to make sure the affidavit or form will not be rejected.

      • Enter all information on the affidavit exactly as it currently appears on the registrant's (child on the record) most recent birth certificate that is registered with the state.
        ​

        • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​If you do not have a current birth certificate, you can order one.​ You will be able to exchange one certificate free of charge for an amended certificate within one year of issuance.

      • ​Description Wait to sign the document!

      • Take the completed document to a Notary and sign it in the presence of the Notary.

      • When signing the form be sure to use the name as it appears on the ID being submitted with the application. These will need to match.​

      • If ANY words are crossed out or any white out is used on the form, the application will be rejected. If you make a mistake, fill out a new form.


      • Pay attention to whose signatures are required on the forms. (both parents and notary).


      Additional information:

      • Most forms can be filled out on your computer and then printed.

      • If​ you do complete a form by hand, use blue or black ink and print neatly.​

      • A Notary can be found in many places​ of business. Banks, insurance companies, and shipping or document preparation companies will often have a Notary.​​


      -OR-

      Provide a Court Order Establishing Paternity
      If the mother was not married during the pregnancy (300 days prior to date of birth, or if the father named on the record has been disestablished by court judgment), and if one or both parents are unable or unwilling to sign the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Form, to add the father we need:
    • An original, court certified judgment with a clear statement that the court finds that a man is the biological father of a specific child. The child must be identified by name and date of birth or age.
    • Only the father's information that is provided in the court order will be added to the birth record.

      • -OR-

      Provide a Court Order Disestablishing Paternity
      To remove the father named on the record (without adding a new one) we need:
    • An original, court certified judgment stating that the father named on the record is not the father of the child.
    • An original, court certified divorce judgment may also disestablish paternity depending on what is stated in the judgment.
    • A father added by a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit may be removed if the Affidavit is rescinded or “taken back." You have sixty (60) days after filing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit to rescind the Affidavit. Parents may leave a voicemail at 971-673-1147 or email CHS.Amendments@oha.oregon.gov to ask for the "Rescind of Voluntary Acknowledgment" form for either the mother or the father. There is no fee for filing this form.

      • For more information on Disestablishing Paternity, click here.


      ​Amendment Fee: $35​

      This fee does not include a copy of the certificate after the record is corrected or amended.

       

      ​Payment:

      No cash. Make payment by money order or check.


      Make payment out to: OHA/Vital Records
      Pay Certificate Fee(s) $25 - $30 per certificate
      (If ordering new birth certificates)

      ​There are two types of birth certificates issued from Oregon Vital Records:

      • Computer Issued Certificate - $25 (also called Short form)

      • Full Image Birth Certificate - $30 (also called Long form)

       

      The following information will help you decide which certificate(s) to select on the birth certificate application.

       




      2008​​ or Later


      If you are requesting a birth certificate for someone born in 2008 or later, you MUST choose the computer issued certificate.

       

      Computer Issued Birth Certificates (2008 or later)

       

      For those born in 2008 or later, computer issued birth certificates include ALL the data filed at the time of birth including the following: 

      • Full name of child

      • Date of birth

      • Sex of child

      • Time of birth

      • Name of hospital or birthing facility

      • Full names of parents

      • Parents' dates of birth or ages

      • Mother's address

      • Certifier Signature 

      Works for all legal needs. 


      Births before 2008


      If the person on the birth certificate was born before 2008, you can choose between these two options.

      ​

      Computer Issued Birth Certificate (pre 2008) 


      For those born before 2008, computer issued certificates included limited information from the birth record.

       

      • Full name of child

      • Date of birth

      • Sex of child

      • Full name of parents 

      These computer issued certificates work for most legal needs such as:


      • School enrollment

      • School sports

      • Driver's license

      • Documentation for cruises

      • Passport application (Important: If amendments have been made to your birth record, submit the full image birth certificate when applying for a passport)

      Full Image Birth Certificates


      These are copies of the original paper or microfilm birth record from the birthing facility or amended birth record. 


      Order the Full Image Certificate if you:

       

      • Want all of the details of your birth record.

      • Plan to use the birth certificate outside the U.S.

      • Need for dual citizenship

      • Need to get an authentication document from the Oregon Secretary of State (apostille)

      • Need more detailed information for genealogy research

      Works for all legal needs.

       

      You may order one or more of each type of certificate if you want the option to have a certificate with limited personal information and one with all the information from the birth record. ​​

      ​Birth Certificate Fees:


      • $25 for each computer issued certificate
         ​

      • $30 for each full image certificate – available only for 1903-2007 birth records

       

      Payment:


      (Please submit one payment that includes all amendment and certificate fees.)

      No cash. Make payment by money order or check.

      ​

      Make payment out to: OHA/Vital Records

      ​ 

      Replacement Fees for Birth Certificates:

       

      Original certificates can be replaced after an amendment if they are turned in for replacement within one year of issuance.

                 

      First replacement                                       Free/no charge

      Every additional replacement                    $5.00 

       

      Certificates issued more than one year ago cannot be replaced. 
      New certificates must be ordered.


      Certificates to be exchanged can be included with your amendment order and will be re-issued when the amendment is complete. If you send in certificates for replacement separately from an amendment order, please include your photo ID and a birth order form.

                 

                  Birth Order Form-English

                  Birth Order Form-Spanish

      Submit the Amendment Application and Materials

      • ​​Birth Order Form

      • Copy of Current Photo ID

      • Paternity Affidavit or Form or Original Court Documents

      • Original Evidence Document (if required)

      • $35 Amendment Fee

      • Certificate Fees (if ordering new amended birth certificates)

        • ​​​​$25 for each computer Issued

          or 

        • $30 for each Full Image

           or
          ​​​

        • $5 Replacement​ Fee (if required)


      Payment:

      Make one payment for all fees.


      No cash. Make payment by money order or check.

      ​​

      Make payment out to:


      OHA/Vital Records


      Please do not staple payments or documents or payments to each other or to the order form.

      ​

      Place all Materials in one sealed envelope and submit to Oregon vital Records by:


      Mail:

      ​Oregon Vital Records

      Amendments Unit

      PO Box 14050

      Portland OR 97293


      -or-

      Drop Box:

      Oregon Vital Records

      Amendments Unit

      800 NE Oregon Street 

      Portland OR 97232


      Description

       

      The bright blue box is located at the entrance by the west door (located in the parking lot).​

      The box is checked several times a day during regular business hours. 

      Please make sure that the items you drop off are in a sealed envelope, and "Oregon Vital Record Amendments Unit" is clearly written on the outside. If you are submitting documents to a specific amendments specialist, please include their name on the envelope. If you are submitting additional documents for an existing or pending order, please reference that order number on the envelope. 







      Additional Information


      After submitting your amendment request materials and fee, the date your check or money order is cashed represents the verification your materials were received. It also helps you estimate the time remaining BEF​ORE your request is processed.

       

      We are unable to provide status updates for individual orders at this time due to high workload and staffing availability. Visit the “Amendment Processing Times" link in the “Change a Record" menu from the Vital Records and Certificates Home Page to view a list of the latest processing times for different amendment types. This page is updated weekly and is subject to change.

       

      Requests are reviewed and processed in the order they were received. If there are any issues with your request, you will be contacted at that time by secure email, mail, or by phone. Please check your junk email folder for any messages from us that may get caught in a filter.

       

      The following may cause delays with processing the order:

      • Inaccurate or incomplete information was submitted

      • Missing ID and/or documents that are required for the amendment

      • Missing fees or partial payment received

      • The applicant who submitted the order is not eligible​

      ​​

      If the amendment needs to be completed sooner than this timeline allows, we offer expedited service for an additional $30 fee.  


      You must write on the order form that you are expediting your request with your additional $30 payment.


      Expedited amendments are processed in three (3) full business days once all required documents and fees are received. After the amendment is processed, the amended certificate is sent to you via regular U.S. Mail (allow 7-10 business days for delivery). 

      ​​​​

      If you require a faster delivery method for the new certificate to be sent, you must provide all materials required by your chosen delivery service, including prepaid envelope and completed mailing label (for example, FedEx or UPS).​


      ​​Completed Amendment Requests


      Once an amendment request has been reviewed, one of the following will happen: ​


      DescriptionIf the am​endment was completed, the record will be updated with the correct information.


      DescriptionIf new certificates of the updated record were requested they will be mailed to the address that was provided. ​


      Description

      ​Any original evidence or court document(s) provided for the amendment will be returned to the applicant via certified mail with the exception of documents required to be retained in a permanent sealed file.
      ​


      DescriptionIf the amendment was unable to be completed, the applicant will receive an email or letter explaining why and what steps need to happen to continue the amendment process.

      Once the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form or affidavit is filed with the Center for Health Statistics, it is placed in a special sealed file and access is restricted. Parents listed on the birth record and the registrant named on the record after age 18 may request a copy of the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form.

       

      It may also be requested by a child support agency created under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. Any other person or agency requesting a copy of the document must petition an Oregon court to obtain a court judgment for the release of the form. If such a judgment is obtained, you may forward a certified copy of the court judgment (showing the original seal and signature of the court official). The fees are $24 fee for a certified copy of the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, or $4 for an uncertified copy. To order, please see our Oregon Paternity Affidavit Order Form.​





    icons8-news-96.png Disestablishing Paternity


    If a mother was married during the pregnancy (300 days prior to date of birth) but the father currently named on the record is not the biological father, by Oregon law the father currently named on the record must be disestablished by court judgment before the name of the biological father can be added.


    To prove the father currently named on the record is not the father, please include this document in addition to the items listed in the Checklist to Add or Remove a Father on a Record​​ above:

    • An original, court-certified judgment stating that the father currently named on the record is not the father of the child.


    Original, court-certified divorce judgments may also disestablish paternity depending on what is stated in the judgment.


    If acceptable documents to remove the father currently named on the record and add a different father ​to the birth record are submitted at the same time, only one amendment fee will be charged.

    ​

    Court judgments can also be submitted that overturn a previous court judgment establishing a father, or a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form that is found by a court to be in error. Judgments can be accepted from any court in the United States.

    See: Oregon Revised Statutes 109.072



      Amendments Contact Information


      ​​​If you leave a voicemail or email an amendment specialist about an amendment, please leave one complete message and include:


      1. ​Your first and last name (Please spell if leaving a message.)

        ​

      2. Telephone number

      3. Email address

      4. The name currently listed on the record (Please spell this if leaving a message.)

      5. The date of the vital event (birth, death, etc.)

      6. Order number, if there is one assigned

      7. The amendment type, an exact description of the item that is in error and how it needs to be changed or corrected. 

      8. Whether a request and/or fee has already been submitted to make the change to the record.


      ​​​Providing this level of detail allows our staff to find your information if it has already been submitted and make sure we are as prepared as possible before responding to your communication.


      ​Email: CHS.Amendments@oha.oregon.gov​


      Phone: 971-673-1147

      This phone line is exclusively for voicemails and​ won't be answered by a person.





      icons8-news-96.png Establishing Paternity FAQs



      ​It means establishing legal fatherhood for a child whose parents are not married. Once legal fatherhood is established, the name of the father and information about the father is entered on a child's birth certificate.​


      • ​Financial support from both parents is required by law. Children supported by only one parent may not have enough money for their needs. 

      • Legal and social benefits, like the father's medical insurance, Social Security, veterans, worker's compensation and inheritance benefits.

      • The father's medical history helps a child's doctor treat and manage their health as they grow into adulthood.

      ​Both parents may sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form at the hospital or birthing center when the child is born. 
      ​

      Oregon hospital staff will make the form available and will witness the parents' signatures. No fee will be charged and the father's name will be added to the birth certificate at the hospital. Parents cannot use this form if the mother was married at any time during the pregnancy because Oregon law makes a husband the presumed father of the child. 
      ​

      Parents may also sign a notarized version of this form at any time after birth. There is no time limit on signing the form. If the form is not filed at the time of birth, there is a $35 amendment fee for the change to the birth record.


      ​If the mother was not married during the pregnancy, both parents may sign and have notarized a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit at any time after the child is born and the birth record has been filed.

       

      A $35 fee is charged for filing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit and creating a new birth certificate. To request a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit, please call 971-673-1155 or e-mail the staff listed below. We also provide complete instructions for submitting the form and obtaining a new birth certificate here .

      ​Free notary public services to sign Acknowledgment of Paternity forms are usually available at the State Vital Records office at 800 NE Oregon Street, Room 225, Portland, OR 97232, Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. In addition, Oregon Division of Child Support offices and District Attorney offices with child support programs may also provide notary public services for this purpose. The Oregon Division of Child Support may also pay the $35 amendment fee if the parents can meet certain requirements. Please see the Division of Child Support Web page  for further information.

       

      Before you come to the office: Parents must hear the “Rights and Responsibilities" printed on the back of the form read aloud before they can sign the form. If you plan to come into the office to sign the form, have it read aloud to you before you come, or bring another person with you to read it to you in the office. To open this part of the form, see the following links:

      ​Affidavits with corrections, white-out, or without notarized signatures for both parents will be rejected. Affidavits will also be rejected if the birth record includes information that the mother was married at any time during the pregnancy and no legal documents are submitted proving that the husband has been disestablished.​​

      ​The Center for Health Statistics receives information from the hospital about whether the mother was married during the pregnancy. If the hospital reported that the mother was married, the Center for Health Statistics cannot accept and file the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit unless the mother provides a certified court judgment (such as a divorce decree or a judgment of non-paternity) stating that the man who was her husband during the pregnancy is not the biological or legal father of the child. The name of the child and date of birth is needed to match to the birth record. Please send a certified copy of the court judgment (showing the original seal and signature of the court official) with the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit.

       

      The language in the court judgment to disestablish the husband must be specific. It must state that the husband is not the biological father and provide the child's name and date of birth or age. We will use court judgments where there is a finding of the court that there are “no children of the marriage" or “no children of the relationship." Once the husband is disestablished, the mother and the biological father of the child may sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form.

       

      On the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form where there is a statement about eligibility to file the form, the mother must line out the statement that she is unmarried and initial the change. She should insert a note that husband has been disestablished.

      The $35 amendment fee is charged when this process is completed.​


      ​The Division of Child Support or any court may review genetic parentage tests and issue a judgment establishing paternity. The Oregon Center for Health Statistics does not have the legal authority to review parentage reports and change a birth certificate without a legal judgment.

       

      If the mother was not married to someone else during the pregnancy and marries the father after the child is born, both parents may sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit. In addition, they may attach a copy of the marriage certificate to the paternity acknowledgment form. When the marriage is verified, the Center for Health Statistics will add the father's name to the birth record and change the mother's legal name to her legal name after marriage.​


      ​Paternity may be established by a legal judgment from the Division of Child Support  or by a court judgment. If either the father or the mother will not agree to establish paternity and the child is under the age of 18, either parent may ask the Division of Child Support (DCS) for assistance. DCS may file paperwork that results in a legal judgment to establish paternity and add the father's name to the birth certificate.

       

      If the mother receives public assistance from any Oregon agency, such as the Department of Human Services or the Oregon Youth Authority, a child support case will be referred to the Division of Child Support automatically. If the mother does not receive public assistance, either parent can apply for services with the local county District Attorney.

       

      The Division of Child Support is also responsible for assuring that children are provided with adequate financial support. For information about the child support program, applying for child support, and links to legal assistance agencies, please see the Oregon Division of Child Support FAQs. 

      ​Either parent may obtain a court judgment to establish paternity by hiring an attorney and petitioning a court. If one parent objects, the court may require genetic parentage tests before issuing a judgment. The court may also consider other factors including what is in the best interests of the child.

       

      In some cases where the parents marry after the child is born and then divorce, the divorce judgment may state that the husband is the father of the child and can be used to establish paternity and add the father's name to the birth certificate. The divorce judgment must state explicitly that the husband is the father of the child and the information about the child (name and date of birth) must match the information listed on the birth certificate. A divorce judgment that states that there is "one child of the marriage" without naming the child, or that does not distinguish a biological child of the marriage from an adopted child, cannot be used to establish paternity. Our office uses a different amendment process for adoption than paternity establishment.

       

      The Oregon Center for Health Statistics cannot provide you with legal counsel or documents for petitioning a court and obtaining a court judgment. Please consult an attorney or obtain the assistance of your county district attorney .


      ​The Division of Child Support or any court may review genetic parentage tests and issue a judgment establishing paternity. The Oregon Center for Health Statistics does not have the legal authority to review parentage reports and change a birth certificate without a legal judgment. ​

      ​If paternity is established after the mother leaves the hospital, both parents may agree to change the last name of the child. This surname change must be included on the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit forwarded to the Center for Health Statistics. Both parents must agree on the last name. If one parent changes the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit by crossing out the last name of the child and writing in a different name, the form will not be accepted and a new form must be completed and signed.

       

      After paternity is established and the child is more than one year of age, any change in the last name of the child will usually require a court judgment.​


      ​No, once paternity has been established and the father's name has been added to the birth certificate, the record has legally been changed and the birth record without the father's name cannot be issued.​

      ​Up to sixty days after filing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form or affidavit, either the father or the mother may request that the father's name be removed from the birth certificate. To remove the father's name, a Rescind or "Take Back" of Paternity Acknowledgment form must be filed with the Center for Health Statistics within sixty days. Parents may call 971-673-1147 or email CHS.Amendments@oha.oregon.gov and ask for the "Rescind of Voluntary Acknowledgment" form for either the mother or the father. There is no fee for filing this form.

       

      Up to one year after filing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form or affidavit, either parent can request parentage testing. Paternity established by either the Division of Child Support (DCS) or the District Attorney (DA) can also be reopened in the first year by requesting parentage tests if they were not done before. Please contact your local DCS or DA office for additional information.

       

      Once testing is completed, a court judgment may be issued to either remove or change the father listed on the birth certificate. The Center for Health Statistics will need a certified copy of the court judgment (showing the original stamp and signature of the court official), and a fee of $60. The fee includes the cost of a new certified copy of the updated birth certificate. Parents who petition a court directly need to obtain a certified copy of the court judgment. In cases where the Division of Child Support  follows up by completing the parentage tests, DCS may send a certified copy of the court judgment to our office to change the name of the father on the birth certificate.

       

      After a full year from the date paternity was established, either parent challenging the name of the father on a birth record must petition a court and obtain a court judgment to either remove or change the father listed on the birth record. Again, the Center for Health Statistics needs a certified copy of the court judgment with the original stamp and seal of the court and the $35 fee for changing the birth certificate.​

      ​When parents sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form or affidavit, the hospital staff or vital records office receiving the form should provide both parents with a copy. The newest version of the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form includes a carbon copy for both the mother and the father.

       

      Once the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form or affidavit is filed with the Center for Health Statistics, it is placed in a special sealed file and access is restricted. Per House Bill 2093 and administrative rules effective January 1, 2014, parents listed on the birth record and the registrant named on the record after age 18 may request a copy of the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form.

       

      It may also be requested by a child support agency created under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. Any other person or agency requesting a copy of the document must petition an Oregon court to obtain a court judgment for the release of the form. If such a judgment is obtained, you may forward a certified copy of the court judgment (showing the original seal and signature of the court official). The fees are $24 fee for a certified copy of the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, or $4 for an uncertified copy. To order, please see our Oregon Paternity Affidavit Order Form.


      ​Oregon law (ORS 432.350 ) restricts access to birth records and information to immediate family members and their legal representatives. To receive a birth record, you must be listed on the child's birth certificate. To find out whether you are listed as the father, you must request a copy of the record and provide the child's name, date of birth, place of birth (city and county), mother's full maiden name, and your full name as the presumed father. The non-refundable fee for a record search is $25.

       

      The Center for Health Statistics will search for the record and you will receive one of the following:

      • A certified copy of the birth certificate if you are listed as the father.

      • A statement that you are not eligible to receive the record because no father is listed on the birth record. If the mother was not married at any time during the pregnancy, a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit will also be enclosed for use by the parents. When submitting the Acknowledgment affidavit with the $35 amendment fee, please include a copy of the order form showing proof of payment of the $25 certificate fee. You will then be charged the $35 amendment fee, but not an additional certificate fee.

      • A statement that you are not eligible to order the record. This statement will be sent if the record is found but someone else is listed as the father on the birth record.

      • A statement that no record can be found. If you receive this response, either the information provided was not accurate enough to locate the birth record, or the child was adopted and is now listed under a new adoptive name and new adoptive parents.​