Establish Parentage

Learn more about enrolling in child support services.

Parentage

What is parentage?

Parentage is the legal recognition of a parent’s relationship with a child. If a child doesn’t have two legally recognized parents, the Oregon Child Support Program can help establish parentage.

The Importance of Parentage

Parentage must be established to:

  • Protect the child’s rights to benefits if the parent dies, such as money or property left in a will, Veterans benefits, or Social Security
  • Allow the child access to their parent’s family medical history
  • Obtain a child support order, including health care coverage

Ways to Establish Parentage

When parents are married to each other when a child is born, parentage is automatically established as a matter of law.

When parents are not married, parentage can be established through a circuit court or by an administrative process with the Oregon Child Support Program.

When both parents agree they are the genetic parents of a child, parentage may be established by completing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage Affidavit». This form must be signed by both parents, notarized, and filed with Oregon Vital Records. The Oregon Child Support Program can facilitate the process, including paying the filing fee.

Free Genetic Testing

The Oregon Child Support Program offers free genetic testing to establish parentage and add a parent’s name to a birth certificate. Genetic tests are simple, accurate, and determine whether the person tested is the child’s genetic parent.

For more information on establishing parentage or genetic testing, contact Customer Service at 800-850-0228 or ChildSupportCustomerService@doj.oregon.gov.

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Parentage-Only Services

You can request services to establish parentage without pursuing child support.

Child Support Services

In addition to establishing parentage, you can request services to establish a child support order, including medical support.

To begin either process, you must complete a Declaration in Support of Establishing Parentage » | en Español » for each child that needs parentage established.

For more information, visit Enroll in Child Support Services.

Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage

Before signing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage Affidavit, it’s important to understand your rights and responsibilities. Watch the video below or read the details on the back of the Voluntary Acknowledgment affidavit (Vea en Español).

Steps to Establishing Parentage

1. Request Services

A parent enrolls for parentage-only or parentage and child support services. Parents may also be referred for child support services when receiving public assistance.

2. Initial Contact and Information Gathering

Oregon Child Support Program contacts both parents to complete and sign appropriate paperwork.

This process usually takes 30–45 days but can take longer if a parents must be located. See Locating a Parent for more information.

3. Parentage Proceeding Begins

When a declaration is received, we will:

  • Gather necessary forms (including the signed Declaration in Support of Establishing Parentage)
  • Confirm both parents’ mailing or physical addresses
  • Issue and serve a proposed order establishing parentage only or parentage and child support, depending on the request

The length of time for this step varies because it may take repeated attempts to serve on one of the parents.

4. After the Proposed Order is Served

If genetic tests are requested, we will schedule as soon as possible. Appointments for testing do not have to be done at the same time. These tests are more than 99% accurate, and results are usually available within 15–30 days.

  • If the test confirms biological parentage, the proposed order is filed in court, which legally establishes parentage.
  • If the test excludes the alleged genetic parent, an order of non-parentage will be filed in court. The alleged genetic parent is no longer involved in any future legal action. If the parent who gave birth (mother) wishes to continue, they will need to provide the name of another alleged genetic parent.

If neither parent responds within 30 days of being served, the order may be finalized. This means parentage is legally established for the child, and both parents now have the same rights and responsibilities as if the child were born into a marriage.