You Can Voluntarily Establish Paternity In the Hospital
- Unmarried parents have the opportunity to sign a form called the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) prior to discharge from the hospital.
- This is a no cost, simple and convenient method used by most unmarried parents in Virginia to place the father’s name on the child’s birth certificate.
- Parental permission is not needed for minors to voluntarily establish paternity in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- You do not need to be a US citizen to sign this form and your information is confidential.
- Signing an AOP form does not affect benefits such as TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) or Medicaid.
- Paternity establishment and custody are two separate issues. Under most circumstances, when a child is born to unmarried parents, the child lives with the mother and she maintains legal custody. Either parent may seek visitation rights through the Juvenile & Domestic Relation Court system at any time.
- In the Commonwealth of Virginia, you may name your child anything you like regardless of your marital status.
- You will need a current proof of identification as the AOP form must be notarized to complete the process.