• Paternity establishment is how a biological father obtains the legal rights to his child if he and the mother are not married.
• For unmarried parents, paternity must be established before the father’s name can appear on the birth certificate.
• For a child whose mother is or was married to someone other than the biological father within 300 days of the birth, the husband/former husband is presumed to be the father and will be added to the birth certificate unless the biological father acknowledges paternity.

In Louisiana, there are two ways unmarried parents can establish paternity:

1. Completing and signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) Affidavit: If both parties agree they are the biological parents of the child, the Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit can be completed. By signing the form, parents are establishing paternity for their child ─ giving the father legal rights to his child. Completing the form is voluntary, it’s free when completed at the hospital, and is the quickest way to establish paternity.
   
   Paternity affidavits can be completed in the hospital at the time of birth or afterwards at the Vital Records Central Office in New Orleans, at a local child support office, or by mail. For more information about paternity affidavits, visit our AOP Information page. For additional information about paternity affidavits visit Vital Records.
   
   
2. Court proceedings: File a paternity suit with the courts. Also, either parent can contact Child Support Enforcement (CSE) for services or a private attorney for assistance. CSE does not provide paternity-only services for applicants.
   
   Child Support Enforcement
   1.888.524.3578 / 1.888.LAHELPU

Paternity benefits everyone! Here are just a few of the many benefits of establishing paternity:

• The father gets his name added to the birth certificate and gains legal rights to his child. His child then has access to benefits such as Social Security, life insurance, military benefits, and inheritances.
• Your child will also have access to their father’s health insurance as well as both families’ medical histories and lineages.
• Allows both mother and father to develop an emotional bond with their child and share in the responsibilities and rewards of parenting.
• Decreases your child’s chances for high-risk behaviors, like dropping out of school or taking drugs.

To learn about more benefits, visit About – Benefits to Establishing Paternity.

• The best step is to review the child's birth certificate.
• If the birth certificate identifies a father, then paternity has been established. If there is no father identified on the child’s birth certificate, then paternity has not been established.

If unmarried, and both parties agree they are the biological parents of the child, the AOP can be completed. By signing the form, parents are establishing paternity for their child ─ giving the father legal rights to his child. Completing this form is voluntary, it’s free, and is the quickest way to establish paternity. Once completed, the Acknowledgement of Paternity Affidavit is used to add the biological father to the child’s birth certificate.

There are two types of AOP forms:

1. Child born outside of marriage: An AOP form for unmarried parents.
2. Child born of marriage: A 3-party AOP form for married or recently divorced (within 300 days of the birth) parents where a third-party biological father is involved.
• The use of 3-party AOP is limited to cases where the husband and the mother lived separate and apart continuously for a minimum of 180 days prior to the conception of the child and have not reconciled since the beginning of the 180-day period. This affidavit cannot be used if the agreement of any party cannot be obtained or if the parties cannot meet the statutory requirements. In these cases, a court must establish paternity in accordance with R.S.40:46.1 in order for the biological father's name to be added to the birth certificate. If you are not sure if you can use the 3-party AOP, please contact vital records at 504.593.5122.

In the hospital:

• A blank/complimentary copy of the Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit can be obtained from the birth certificate office at the hospital at which the baby was born.

Out of the hospital:
Online:

• Child born outside marriage
• Child born of marriage

In-person:

• Vital Records Central Office in New Orleans (2-party AOP & 3-party AOP)
• Child Support Enforcement (2-party AOP only)

Establishing paternity is an important decision. Completing the paternity form is the quickest and easiest way for unmarried parents to give the father legal rights to his child and have his name placed on the birth certificate. Establishing paternity gives you and your child the rights and opportunities you need and deserve.

• The father gains legal rights to his child. His child then has access to benefits such as Social Security, life insurance, military benefits, and inheritances.
• Your child will also have access to their father’s health insurance as well as both families’ medical histories and lineages.
• Allows both mother and father to develop an emotional bond with their child and share in the responsibilities and rewards of parenting.

If you have any doubts about who the father of the child is, do not sign the Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit. You may want to get genetic testing completed before you decide.

In the hospital (at the time of your child’s birth)

• Picture ID
• Social Security Number (if you have one)
• Parent’s information: Full name, date of birth, place of birth, current address, employment and insurance information

At the Vital Records Central Office in New Orleans or by mail (after your child’s birth)

• Picture ID
• Social Security Number (if you have one)
• Parent’s information: Full name, date of birth, place of birth, current address, employment and insurance information
• Child’s certified birth certificate
• A legally licensed notary. Both parents must sign this form with two witnesses each in the presence of a licensed notary. If completing a 3-party AOP, the mother, father, and husband/ex-husband must sign this form with two witnesses each in the presence of a licensed notary. DO NOT SIGN THIS FORM BEFORE YOU HAVE IT NOTARIZED. Show the notary your picture identification. The notary must write or stamp their State Notary ID Number under their signature.
• If you are completing a 3-party AOP, you must provide a certified DNA-based paternity test that shows the identity of the biological father with at least 99.9% probability.

For more information about paternity affidavits, visit AOP Information. For additional information about paternity affidavits visit, Vital Records.

To complete the process, each parent must show a valid, government-issued photo ID. Accepted forms of ID include:

• Driver’s license
• State ID card (available at Department of Motor Vehicles offices for a small fee)
• Consular ID card or other government-issued, valid identification from country of origin (must be listed in the International ID Checking Guide to be accepted if it is from another country)

Completed in Hospital

• If the AOP is completed in the hospital, there is no charge. Once Vital Records processes the AOP, they will mail a certified copy of the birth certificate to the address listed on the form at no extra charge.

Completed in-person at the Vital Records Central Office in New Orleans or by mail

• AOPs that are completed after parents have left the hospital require special processing and a small fee to amend the child's birth certificate.
• Parents must submit the appropriate completed form to Vital Records with your child's certified birth certificate along with a fee of $27.50. This fee includes one certified copy of the child's amended birth certificate. At the time of submission, you may also include $9.00 for each additional certified copy you would like to receive. If parents do not submit a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, they must include an additional $15 to cover a statutory search.

Completed in-person at Child Support Enforcement (CSE)

• A local child support office can assist unmarried parents with the AOP form and genetic testing. One parent will need to complete an application ($25.00 fee) for CSE services. CSE does not provide paternity-only services for applicants.

Mail the completed form and fees to:

Louisiana Vital Records
ATTN: Amendment Department
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160

Acceptable forms of payment include: Check or money order

No. Although both parents are required to sign the affidavit, it may be signed without being in each other’s presence. However, each parent’s signature must be notarized in front of two witnesses at the time of signing. After both parents have signed and notarized, the form must be submitted to Louisiana Vital Records.

Yes. Regardless of a parent’s citizenship, they can establish paternity for their child, who is a U.S. citizen, as long as all required documentation and proper identification is provided. This form is not used to track non-U.S. residents.

If the biological father is under the age of 18 at the time of conception, he can be included on the birth certificate as long as proper witnesses and documents are available. The minor must have consent from both of his parents by signing as witnesses on the AOP. If the location of the minor’s father/guardian is unknown, the minor’s mother or appointed guardian must present legal custody papers. If proper documents and witnesses are not available during the time of birth, the AOP will be filed containing only the mother’s information and the newborn will be given mother’s last name. Once the minor is 18, they can complete an AOP through the Vital Records Registry for the assigned fees.

Items Needed

• Witnesses for signing: Both guardians of the minor
• Minor must present a birth certificate (only if needed as another source of identification)
• Picture ID
• Social Security Number (if they have one)
• Legal custody papers if the location of the father/guardian is unknown

• Signatures of both the father and the mother are required for an AOP to be completed. If one party is unavailable to sign or will not cooperate, an AOP cannot be executed. Paternity will have to be established judicially through the courts.
• Parties may either seek private counsel to assist or compete an application at a local Child Support Enforcement (CSE) office to establish paternity and child support. CSE does not provide paternity-only services for applicants.
  
  Child Support Enforcement
  1.888.524.3578 / 1.888.LAHELPU

Parents should think carefully before completing an Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit. If they do change their minds, they have 60 days to rescind (cancel) the acknowledgment. For more revocation information, visit Vital Records.

If either parent is unsure if a man is the father of the child, they should consider getting genetic testing. The Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) form should not be used unless both parents are certain that the man listed on the form is the biological father.

A genetic test, also called a DNA test, can determine if the alleged father is the biological father. The test is 99.9% accurate in determining the probability that a man is the biological father.

The genetic, or DNA test, is administered by collecting samples, which are sent to a laboratory to compare the details from the child’s sample with similar traits in the man’s and mother’s sample. In most cases, a buccal swab of the cheek is taken from the mother, child, and alleged father.

The test will show with 99.9% certainty that a man is or is not the biological father of the child.

Not at all. In most cases, a buccal swab of the cheek is taken from the mother, child, and alleged father. The test consists of a gentle swab of the inside of each cheek and takes less than a minute.

Genetic testing can be performed on children as young as newborns by utilizing a buccal swab test. The test consists of a gentle swab of the inside of each cheek and takes less than a minute.

• Parents can make private arrangements with the hospital or a paternity testing laboratory.
• LabCorp
• DNA Diagnostics Center
• Child Support Enforcement contracts with two genetic testing laboratories. Applying for services may allow you to receive genetic testing at no cost. For more information on genetic testing locations, please call 1.888.LAHELPU (1.888.524.3578).

If parents make private arrangements for genetic testing, the parents will be responsible for the cost. If either parent receives help from Child Support Enforcement, the State may pay for the test. The court may order the father to re-pay the cost of the genetic test if paternity is established.

The mother can contact the local child support enforcement office for assistance in obtaining genetic testing when the father lives out of state. Browse the list of Child Support Enforcement agencies.

Child Support Enforcement may assist an applicant in establishing paternity when the alleged father is deceased so that the child will have inheritance rights and/or the right to receive Social Security or veterans’ benefits.

• The parent who is not incarcerated can complete their portion of the AOP and send it to the other parent, if the incarcerated parent has a way to have the affidavit notarized while in custody. Once the affidavit is notarized, it can then be mailed back to the other parent or directly to Vital Records.
• If genetic testing is desired to establish paternity, either person can contact Child Support Enforcement. Genetic testing will be completed by a contracted lab for the person who is incarcerated.

• Paternity establishment and custody are two separate issues. Under most circumstances, when a child is born to unmarried parents, the child lives with the mother and she maintains physical custody. Once paternity is established, the father may seek visitation rights through the court system.
• The Louisiana Paternity Establishment Program has no authority in custody and visitation issues.
• Child Support Enforcement (CSE) has no authority in custody issues but does offers an Access and Visitation Program to assist parents with visitation in select Parishes. These services are available for qualified applicants who do not have a current or prior visitation order and whose child support order originates in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson or Orleans Parish. Learn more about these services. Parents who do not qualify for the Access and Visitation Program or wish to pursue custody, must petition the court to seek visitation and/or custody.

In most cases, it’s up to the parent who has physical custody of the child to request support. However, if the child or parent is receiving certain benefits provided for the medical or financial care of that child, the father may be required to pay child support. To learn more, contact Child Support Enforcement at 1.888.524.3578 / 1.888.LAHELPU.

If both parents are not willing to complete an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) Affidavit to establish paternity, paternity will have to be established judicially through the courts.

Parties may either seek private counsel to assist or compete an application at a local Child Support Enforcement (CSE) office to establish paternity and child support. CSE does not provide paternity-only services for applicants.

Learn more about registering with the Louisiana Putative Father Registry.

If the Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) Affidavit was completed in the hospital, Vital Records will mail a certified birth certificate to the address provided on the form.

There are three ways to obtain a certified copy of a Louisiana birth certificate:

• In person at the Vital Records Central Office in New Orleans
• By mailing a request to the Vital Records Registry
• Placing an internet, fax, or telephone order through VitalCheck Network

For specific instructions for each method, visit Vital Records.

The process to make changes to a birth certificate varies depending on the type of legal change needed and how recently the record was filed. For more information, visit Vital Records.

AOP completed in the hospital:

• If the AOP is completed in the hospital, there is no charge. Once Vital Records processes the AOP, they will mail a certified copy of the birth certificate to the address listed on the form at no extra charge.

AOP completed in-person at Vital Records Central Office in New Orleans or by mail:

• AOPs that are completed after parents have left the hospital require special processing and a small fee to amend the child’s birth certificate.
• Parents must submit the appropriate completed form to Vital Records with their child's certified birth certificate along with a fee of $27.50. This fee includes one certified copy of the child's amended birth certificate. At the time of submission, parents may also include $9.00 for each additional certified copy they would like to receive. If they do not submit a certified copy of their child's birth certificate, they must include an additional $15 to cover a statutory search. For more information, visit Vital Records.

AOP completed in-person at Child Support Enforcement (CSE):

• If the AOP is completed at a local child support office, CSE will send the completed AOP to Vital Records. It will be up to the parent to contact Vital Records, complete the application, and pay the fee to amend the birth certificate.

• By Louisiana law, if the mother is or was married to someone other than the biological father within 300 days of the birth, a 3-party AOP form can be used. The form requires the agreement of all parties involved – including the mother, the husband/ex-husband, and the biological father – along with a DNA-based paternity test that shows the identity of the biological father with at least 99.9% probability. Once the 3-party AOP is completed and accepted, the biological father is now presumed to be the father of the child and can be placed on the birth certificate.
• The use of 3-party AOP is limited to cases where the husband and the mother lived separate and apart continuously for a minimum of 180 days prior to the conception of the child and have not reconciled since the beginning of the 180-day period. This affidavit cannot be used if the agreement of any party cannot be obtained or if the parties cannot meet the statutory requirements. In these cases, a court must establish paternity in accordance with R.S.40:46.1 in order for the biological father's name to be added to the birth certificate.