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Paternity Affidavit

A Paternity Affidavit may be filed with the father to allow the addition of the father’s name to the birth record and to give the child an agreed-upon last name. A Paternity Affidavit can be completed at the hospital within 72 hours of the birth, or at the local health department in the jurisdiction where the child was born within the first 18 years of the child’s life.

The required forms are available at both the hospital and the local health department, and both the father and mother are required to sign the form before a Notary Public. Identification and fees vary by health department, so they should be contacted for specific information. A listing of local health departments in Indiana is available on the Local Health Department Contacts page.

For more information about establishing paternity with a Paternity Affidavit, review the Establishing Paternity Brochure or Estableciendo Paternidad Folleto developed by the Department of Child Services, in conjunction with Vital Records.

A search of filed Paternity Affidavits may be conducted by completing and submitting an Application for Search of Paternity Affidavit (State Form 54763).

For questions or more information about filing a Paternity Affidavit or conducting a search, please contact Vital Records at (317) 233-2700.