Adding the father's name to the birth record when the parents are not married

Certified copies of a previously-completed Recognition of Parentage (ROP) or Declaration of Parentage (DOP) form

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 birth:

1) Recognition of Parentage (ROP); or
2) Court Ordered Paternity Adjudication.

Recognition of Parentage (ROP)
Completing an 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 or the Minnesota Department of Human Services 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.

ROP forms and program brochures are available on the Department of Human Services Web site.

Court Ordered Paternity Adjudication
To request a court ordered paternity adjudication, contact the court administrator's office in the county where you live.

To change the birth record, the court order must 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.

Submit the certified court order to MDH. There is a $40 fee to change the child's birth record with a court ordered paternity adjudication.

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 a copy of an ROP, DOP, Husband's Non-Paternity Statement (HNPS) or a Revocation of an ROP, DOP, or HNPS, please complete the Request for a Certified Copy of a Recognition of Parentage or Declaration of Parentage or Related Form (Interactive PDF: 113KB/1 page). Word file: 36KB. Follow the directions on the form to mail or fax to MDH.

Before you choose to pay with a credit card, please read the authorization and disclaimer.

To view PDF files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader or for screen reader accessibility Adobe Acrobat Access (free downloads from Adobe Web site).

If you have any questions about Recognition or Parentage, Declaration of Parentage, or how court ordered paternity adjudication affects the birth record, please e-mail health.osr4@state.mn.us.