Establishing Legal Parentage


Overview

If parentage has not been established, The Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) will take the necessary steps to establish parentage. Establishing parentage provides a child of unmarried parents the same legal rights as a child born to married parents. Once parentage is legally established, children are entitled to the following:

  • Financial support
  • Access to family medical history
  • Inheritance rights
  • Medical and life insurance benefits
  • Social Security benefit

For more information on voluntarily acknowledging parentage click the following link:

For more Information on obtaining a court order for parentage select one of the following: