Acknowledgment Of Paternity Affidavit - Ohio Department Of Job And Family Services printable pdf download

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PATERNITY AFFIDAVIT

Ohio Revised Code Section 3111.31

(Please read the important information on this page before completing the affidavit on the reverse side)

Notice of Rights and Responsibilities and Due Process Safeguards

Completion of the Acknowledgment of Paternity affidavit is voluntary.

If a man voluntarily acknowledges a parent and child relationship by signing an acknowledgment of paternity affidavit

(hereafter paternity affidavit), he assumes the parental duty of support which may be enforced through a child support order.

Both parents who sign this paternity affidavit waive any right to bring a court action to establish paternity pursuant to sections

3111.01 to 3111.18 of the Revised Code or make a request for an administrative determination of a parent and child relationship

pursuant to section 3111.38 of the Revised Code, other than a court action filed for purposes of rescinding the paternity

affidavit.

There are some circumstances set forth in state law under which either parent may rescind the paternity affidavit after it is

signed (pursuant to sections 3111.27, 3111.28, and 3119.961 of the Revised Code). To rescind the paternity affidavit, no later

than 60 days after the date of the latest signature on the acknowledgment of paternity affidavit, either parent who signed it must

do both of the following:

Request an administrative determination of a parent and child relationship from the county child support enforcement

agency in which the child, guardian or legal custodian of the child resides and

Send a written notice to the Central Paternity Registry to the address below that you have requested an administrative

determination of a parent and child relationship, and include in the notice the name of the child support enforcement

agency conducting the genetic tests.

After the 60 day period and within one year after the paternity affidavit becomes final pursuant to sections 2151.232, 3111.25 or

3111.821 of the Revised Code, either parent who signed the paternity affidavit or the alleged father may file an action with the

court to rescind the paternity affidavit on the basis of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact.

A man who is determined to be the father of a child has the right to petition a court for an order granting him reasonable

parenting time with respect to the child (pursuant to section 3109.12 of the Revised Code) and petition the court for custody of

the child (pursuant to section 2151.23 of the Revised Code). Pursuant to section 3109.042, an unmarried female who gives birth

to a child is the sole residential parent and legal custodian of the child until a court issues an order designating another person

as the residential parent and legal custodian. The court will treat the mother and father on an equal standing when making this

designation.

If a child, a man, a child's mother, or a person who represents them is not sure if the man is the child's father, paternity may be

established through genetic testing. Testing can be arranged, usually without charge, through the child support enforcement

agency (CSEA) if a court or an administrative action to establish paternity is filed. If testing is desired, do not sign the paternity

affidavit but instead contact the local CSEA and request genetic tests. If the test shows that a man is the father, the agency will

then issue an administrative order establishing paternity and may proceed to determine a child support order.

Purpose of this Affidavit

The purpose of the paternity affidavit on the other side of this form is to acknowledge the legal existence of a father and child relationship

through voluntary paternity establishment.

This paternity affidavit cannot be signed if another man is presumed to be the natural father of the child. Pursuant to Ohio

Revised Code section 3111.03, a man is presumed to be the natural father of a child in the following circumstances:

A man is married to the child's mother at the time of the child's birth; or

A man and the child's mother were married to each other and the child is born within 300 days after the marriage is ended by

court order or by the death of the man or the mother; or

A man and the child's mother were married to each other and the child is born after the man and the child's mother file a

separation agreement in court; or

A man signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit which has been filed with the Ohio Department of Job & Family

Services and the Acknowledgment has not become final.

A legal father and child relationship can also be established through a court or administrative order.

Instructions

* Type or print legibly in dark blue or black ink.

* All required spaces in the child's, mother's, and father's sections must be filled out.

* Both the natural father and mother of the child are required to sign this affidavit. The affidavit may be signed without being in each

other’s presence. However, each parent's signature must be notarized at the time of signing by either the same notary public or different

ones.

* After the affidavit has been completed, signed, and notarized, it must be sent within 10 calendar days of the last signature to the

following address:

Central Paternity Registry

PO Box 183206

Columbus, OH 43218-3206

* You can contact the Central Paternity Registry if you have any questions toll free at 1-888-810-6446.

JFS 07038 (Rev. 5/2014)

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Acknowledgment Of Paternity Affidavit - Ohio Department Of Job And Family Services

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