Acknowledgments of paternity | Georgia Division of Public Well being

Definition of a PA

According to Georgian law, a recognition or determination of paternity establishes the biological condition of being a father. However, it does not establish a legal relationship between father and child that grants custody or visiting rights.

Establishing paternity for a child in Georgia can be done in one of the following ways:

1. The child’s parents are legally married at the time of the child’s birth;
2. Unmarried parents sign a form for voluntary recognition of paternity at:
   A. In the hospital when the child is born or later
   For example, the State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta or the Vital Records Office of the district where the child was born
3. Court order (divorce decree, separation agreement or other judicial or administrative order).

to shape

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Confirmation form

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Acknowledgment of paternity form

(only for previously completed PAs)

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Confirmation withdrawal form

brochures

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Acknowledgments Brochure – English

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Acknowledgments Brochure – Spanish

What you need to know:

According to rule 511-1-3-.08, a child’s surname is entered on the birth certificate based on the following rules:

The child’s surname is the father’s surname in the following cases:

1. If the mother is married to the father either at the time of conception or at the time of birth, the surname of the mother’s husband is entered, unless paternity has been determined otherwise by a competent court.
2. If the mother is neither married to the father at the time of conception nor at the time of birth, the father’s name will only be entered if he and the mother have signed a written declaration of consent.
3. If a competent court has issued an order to determine the paternity of the child, the surname of the father is entered in the order of the court.

In all other cases, the child’s surname is the mother’s legal surname at the time of birth, as determined by the mother. Parents can designate a surname that is not the legal surname of the mother or father if that surname is chosen in accordance with a legitimate cultural naming practice in the country of origin of one or both parents.

However, no part of the child’s name as recorded on the birth certificate contains numbers, symbols, or other non-identifying name information, nor does it contain any word or phrase that is profanity in any language.

If proof of a legal status change through adoption of a person born in that state, legitimation, determination of paternity or recognition of paternity is presented, a new birth certificate may be issued to reflect the name change. The existing birth certificate and the evidence on which the new birth certificate is based are stored in a special file. Such a record will only be viewed by order of a competent court or by the state registrar or agent for the purpose of the proper administration of the Vital Records program.

Note: Completing an Acknowledgment of Paternity will automatically add the father to the Georgia Suspected Fathers registry.

Presumed father register