Establishing parentage creates a legal relationship between a child and the child's parent. Parentage must be established before a parent's name can appear on a child's birth certificate.
Mother's marital status affects parentage
When a child is conceived or born, if the mother is:
- Married: State law recognizes the mother and her spouse (male or female) as legal parents
- Not married: State law recognizes only the mother as the legal parent. Steps can be taken to establish parentage of the father.
Ways to establish parentage
- Child born to a married mother: Mother's spouse is presumed the legal parent and will appear on the child's birth certificate.
- Child born to an unmarried mother:
- If both parents agree the man is the biological father and want him to be the legal father, they can sign a Recognition of Parentage form and file it with the Minnesota Department of Health.
- The court can issue an order establishing parentage. Either parent or the child support office can request this.
Parentage can be established without a child support, custody or parenting time order.
Reasons to establish parentage
A parent may want to establish parentage, so they can:
- Request child support
- Receive benefits for the child on behalf of the other parent, such as Social Security benefits, military benefits, inheritance rights or insurance
- Be listed as a parent on a child's birth certificate
- Be recognized as the child's legal parent
- Seek custody or parenting time with a child
- Add the child to medical or dental insurance
For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services website.
Genetic testing
Either parent can request genetic testing to verify that a man is the child's biological father before he is named the legal father.
Genetic testing may occur if an alleged father denies he is the biological father or when a court action must determine parentage.
Genetic testing requires swab collections from the mother, father and child. Most often the inside of each person's cheek is swabbed for cell collection. Most samples can be taken any time after the child's birth. Samples and testing are important if results are to be used in court. Test results usually take a few weeks.
Genetic testing can show either:
- That a man is not the biological father of the child
- A greater than 99 percent probability that the man is the biological father
To get tested, parents can:
- Talk to hospital staff about genetic testing before or at the time of the child's birth
- Contact their county child support office
- Contact a lab
Test results and orders for support
If the test proves the man is the biological father, the court may issue a court order about child support, custody and parenting time.
Genetic testing fees
If our office sets up genetic testing, we will initially pay the cost.