Establishing Parentage

Establishing parentage creates a legal relationship between a parent and a child and provides many potential benefits, including:

  • A sense of belonging because your child knows both parents.
  • Full family medical history if your child gets sick.
  • Eligibility for government benefits such as Social Security or veteran's dependent benefits.
  • Eligibility for medical insurance coverage through the other parent's health plan, beneficiary of a life insurance policy and rights to future inheritance benefits.
  • Eligibility for financial support from both parents.

What we do

For providers

Hospitals, midwives, birth clinics, health departments, physicians and other organizations form the backbone of Washington state's Parentage and Paternity Program. Your efforts have made the program an outstanding success and a model for the nation. 

The FAQ for Providers gives you the information you need to comply with federal and state laws and meet the needs of parents who want to sign an Acknowledgment of Parentage. We sincerely appreciate your efforts!

For parents

You can establish legal parentage in three ways: by marriage, by Acknowledgment of Parentage or by court order. More information about establishing parentage is available in the FAQ for Parents.

Most parents sign the Acknowledgment of Parentage form at a birthing hospital, a birthing clinic or at home under the care of a midwife shortly after the child is born. A hospital, midwife or birthing clinic employee will help you complete the form, if necessary, answer questions and submit the paperwork to the Department of Health. Most hospitals, midwives and birthing clinics can also notarize the form for you. 

If you sign within five days of your child's birth, you will not need to pay a fee to file the acknowledgment form. If you do not sign at the hospital, you can print the Acknowledgment of Parentage form on the DOH website or get one at your county health department or any DCS office. If you sign at a DCS office, we will send the form for filing and pay the filing fee.

You can also call DCS at 800-442-KIDS (5437) to have a form mailed to you at no charge. Informational booklets are also available.

How can we help you?