Where do you get a paternity affidavit

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For assistance call 1-855-373-4636
Or, visit your local Resource Center. To find a location near you, go to dss.mo.gov/dss_map/

Establish Paternity Banner

What does it mean to establish paternity?

Establishing paternity is the process used to determine whether or not a man is a child’s biological and legal father. This must be complete before we can establish a child support order.

How do I establish paternity?

Parents who are not married can establish legal paternity for a child by:

When the mother is married, but not to the father of the child, the mother and her husband will need to fill out the Husband's Denial of Paternity, which is part of the Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity. If the husband is not cooperative or his location is unknown, the married mother may apply for Child Support services to assist with getting an order that establishes paternity.

What if I'm not sure who the father is?

If paternity has not already been established, you can get free paternity testing through the Family Support Division. Paternity testing (also known as DNA testing or genetic testing) involves a simple swipe of a Q-tip©–like swab inside the cheek of the child, mother, and the man. The samples are then sent to a laboratory for testing. If the results of the genetic test show at least a 98 percent probability that the man is the father, then the man is the presumed father under Missouri law.

It is important to note that genetic testing alone does not establish legal paternity. Parents must complete an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity or obtain an order naming the man as the father of the child.

Questions?

For help with paternity questions, such as how to get the father’s name listed on the child’s birth certificate or how to get free paternity testing, please call 855-454-8037.

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