Adding an unmarried father's name to the child's birth record
There are two ways that a father's name can be added to the child's birth record when the parents are not married at the time of the child's conception or birth:
- Recognition of Parentage (ROP)
- Court Ordered Paternity Adjudication
Recognition of Parentage (ROP)
Completing a Minnesota Voluntary Recognition of Parentage (ROP) form allows the father's name to be added to the child's birth
record. The ROP form can be completed at the hospital when the child is born.
The ROP form is also available through a county child support office and can be completed at any time. If the ROP form is completed after a birth record has been established for the child, you may request a change to the child's last name on the ROP form.
The completed ROP form must be signed and notarized. There must be no blanks or corrections on the form. If there are blanks or corrections on the ROP form, no changes to the birth record will be made and the form will be returned to you.
The form must be mailed to MDH. If you complete the form at the hospital when the child is born, the hospital will provide a notary public and will mail the form to MDH for you.
Once the ROP form is received at MDH, the father's name and other information is added to the birth record. If requested, the child's last name is also changed. There is no fee to complete the ROP form or to change the birth record.
Please note that signing a ROP form establishes a legal relationship between the father and his child. For more information about the ROP program, please contact your county child support office or call the Minnesota Department of Human Services at 651-296-2542 or 1-800-657-3954.
Court Ordered Paternity Adjudication
To request a court ordered paternity adjudication, contact the court administrator's
office in the county where you live.
STATUS REPORT: (updated on 2/6/12) When you submit a Court-ordered Paternity Adjudication, we deposit your payment immediately and then review your request in the order received. We are currently reviewing Paternity Adjudication submissions that we received on December 22, 2011. In addition, we are currently reviewing ROPs that we received on January 18, 2012.
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To change the birth record, the court order must clearly state that the father is the legal father and that his name and other information is to be added to the child's birth record. If the child's last name is to be changed, the court order must also state that the child's last name is to be changed on the birth record.
There is a $40 fee to change the child's birth record with a court ordered paternity adjudication. Please submit the certified court order by mail to MDH:
Minnesota Department of Health
Central Cashiering - Vital Records
P.O. Box 64499
St. Paul, MN 55164-0499
Certified copies of a previously-completed Recognition
of Parentage (ROP) or Declaration of Parentage (DOP) form
The Recognition of Parentage program began in 1994. Parents may have completed
a Declaration of Parentage form for births that occurred before August 1, 1995.
If you need an application to order a certified copy of an ROP, DOP, Husband's Non-Paternity Statement (HNPS) or a Revocation of an ROP, DOP, or HNPS, please see the link below.
STATUS REPORT: (updated on 2/8/12) When you submit a request for a certified copy of an ROP, we deposit your payment immediately and then review your request in the order received. We are currently reviewing requests for certified ROPs that we received February 7, 2012.
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Application for Certified Copy of a Recognition of Parentage (ROP) or other Paternity Form (PDF: 331KB/2 pgs) (Interactive PDF: 333KB/2pgs)
If you have any questions about about adding a father to a birth record with a Recognition of Parentage or court ordered paternity adjudication, please email: health.paternity@state.mn.us.If you have any questions about ordering a certified copy of a Recognition of Parentage or other paternity form that has been filed, please email: health.issuance@state.mn.us