What Paternity Is
In Pennsylvania, when a child is born to a woman who is unmarried, there is no legal relationship between the father and the child. The father of a child born to an unmarried woman is not the father unless:
- Both parents have signed a voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) Form
- A county Domestic Relations Section (DRS) or court has entered an order that establishes the legal father of the child
- The father signs an Acknowledgement of Paternity/Waiver of Trial form at the county Domestic Relations Section (DRS)
Under current Pennsylvania law, when a child is born to a married woman, the husband is the presumed legal father of the child.
Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP)
To request the AOP Form or genetic testing, after the child has been born, please contact your local Domestic Relations Section for more information.
Establishing Paternity in Pennsylvania
For more information on establishing paternity in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Child Support Website.
