LEGAL PATERNITY
Establishing paternity is the process for determining a child’s legal father. Fatherhood must be legally recognized to obtain a child support order.
A child’s legal father may be established by:
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Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity. Unmarried parents can sign a form at the hospital or the Office of Vital records.
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Court Order – Paternity may be established by a court order.
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Marriage
GENETIC TESTING
If paternity is not already legally determined, genetic testing may be ordered.
Child Support Enforcement only does paternity testing where we are establishing a new order and paternity is not yet established, or when court ordered. If you only need paternity test information, you can call the Paternity Hotline at 303-830-3572. If someone named as the father is wishing to contest paternity, this is a judicial action and is not within our jurisdiction.
For more information about paternity, please see the state child support website on paternity.
