Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment

Wisconsin hospitals, midwives, medical clinics, tribal enrollment offices and local vital records offices have received training and have been authorized to work with the Bureau of Child Support, local child support agencies, and the Office of Vital Records to help unmarried parents establish paternity for their children.

The Wisconsin Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment form allows parents to establish paternity without having to go to court. A signed and notarized Wisconsin Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment form filed with the Office of Vital Records fully establishes legal paternity. The father's name is added to the birth certificate.

Benefits of Establishing Paternity

• The baby’s birth certificate will show the names of both parents.
  
• The baby will be entitled to financial support from both parents until he or she becomes an adult [i.e., age 18 or age 19 if the child is still enrolled in high school or pursuing a high school equivalency course (GED)] .
  
• The baby’s doctors will be able to learn both parents’ family medical histories.
  
• The baby may benefit from both parents’ health insurance, Social Security, pension, tribal enrollment rights (for Native Americans) and inheritance.

Please Note: Filing the Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment form with the Office of Vital Records alone does not create a child support order. However, it does allow a court to order child support. If the couple are not absolutely sure the man is the father of the child, they should not sign the form. The couple should be referred to their child support agency for genetic testing.

Filing the Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment form does not give a father legal custody or physical placement. Under Wisconsin law, an unmarried mother has sole legal custody until a court orders otherwise. If the father and mother cannot agree on custody and placement, the father will need to get a court order. Both parents would have to prepare a “Parenting Plan.” The court would then decide what is best for the child. Parents can discuss custody and placement issues with their county’s or tribe's family court counseling service.