questions & answers

Question: My daughters was born last month and her father would like to be on her birth certificate. But he is located in Mexico and is not able to sign so he can be on the certificate. Is there any form that he can fill out in mexico in front of a notary him stating that he agrees with being on the birth certificate. Could he go to the Americana consul or something for this to occur. Please Help!!!

Answer:

According to A.R.S. § 25-812, a state or a parent of a child born out of wedlock may establish paternity in one of the following with the clerk of the superior court in your county, the Department of Economic Security, or the Department of Health Services:

1) A notarized or witnessed statement that contains the social security numbers of both parents and that is signed by both parents acknowledging paternity or two separate substantially similar notarized or witnessed statements acknowledging paternity. If the voluntary acknowledgment is filed with the court, the filing party must redact any social security numbers and file them separately pursuant to section 25-501, subsection G. If another man is presumed to be the child's father pursuant to section 25-814, an acknowledgment of paternity is valid only with the presumed father's written consent or as prescribed pursuant to section 25-814. A statement that is witnessed by an employee of the department of economic security or the department of health services or by an employee of a hospital must contain the printed name and residential or business address of the witness. A statement that is witnessed by any other person must contain the printed name and residential address of the witness. If the acknowledgment of paternity is witnessed, the witness must be an adult who is not related to either parent by blood or by marriage.

2) An agreement by the parents to be bound by the results of genetic testing including any genetic test previously accepted by a court of competent jurisdiction, or any combination of genetic testing agreed to by the parties, an affidavit from a certified laboratory that the tested father has not been excluded.

Information on voluntary paternity can be found on the Department of Economic Security's website.