Establishing Paternity for Children

Establishing paternity is an important first step in obtaining child support. Besides providing the basis for obtaining child support from the noncustodial parent, establishing paternity also provides a child with the basic legal right to support from both parents. It establishes a child's legal right to such entitlements as social security benefits, pension benefits, veterans' benefits, survivor's benefits and rights of inheritance. Establishment of paternity enables a child to obtain accurate medical information regarding heredity. It also provides psychological benefits for a child to know who his/her parents are.

Part of the DCSS's process for establishing paternity requires the custodial parent (CP) to complete a questionnaire. An interview may also be required. The answers to the questionnaire will provide information which will help determine paternity. Some of these questions are of a personal nature, but the information requested is necessary to the paternity establishment process. If the alleged father acknowledges paternity and cooperates in the establishment of paternity, a court order is easily obtained. However, the DCSS needs as much information as possible about the father, the nature of the relationship, the pregnancy, and the birth of the child in the event the alleged father disputes paternity and additional action is necessary.

Paternity can be determined by evidence presented to the court, including results of genetic testing of the mother, child, and alleged father. Genetic tests will exclude men who are not the father and can also indicate the probability of paternity of a man not excluded. This is one of the reasons few paternity cases go to trial. When more than one man is named as a possible father, the DCSS will rely on the information which was provided by the custodial parent to determine whom to pursue first.

Paternity Opportunity Program (POP)

The Paternity Opportunity Program (POP), implemented January 1, 1995, provides unwed mothers and fathers the opportunity to voluntarily establish paternity of their children. The DCSS works in partnership with each of Sonoma County's hospitals and birthing centers to provide this method for unwed parents to establish paternity at the birth of their child. It is a simple process of filling out a Paternity Opportunity Declaration, which is signed by both parents. The Paternity Opportunity Program is available in hospitals, clinics, and in the DCSS office. This program gives children born to unmarried parents the same legal rights as those born within a marriage. Since 1995, more than 6000 Sonoma County fathers voluntarily acknowledged paternity at the birth of their child through the POP program.

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