Acknowledgement of Paternity/Parentage

An Acknowledgement of Paternity/Parentage VS 22 (PDF) form is utilized when:

• Adding a parent to a blank space on the original birth certificate
• Both parents are available to sign the affidavit

For additional information please see the informational pamphlet Add Remove or Replace a Parent on a Birth Certificate.

Supporting Documents

Supporting documents are used to support the information being amended.

When adding a parent to a birth certificate of a person born prior to January 1, 1995, no supporting documents are required other than a notarized sworn statement.

One of the following supporting documents is required for children born on or after January 1, 1995:

• If the parents were married to each other at the time of the child’s birth, submit a photocopy of parent’s marriage certificate.
  
• If the parents were in a State Registered Domestic Partnership (SRDP) at the time of the child’s birth, submit a photocopy of the parent’s SRDP declaration.
  
• If the parents were neither married to each other nor in an SRDP at the time of the child’s birth, submit a certified copy of the Voluntary Declaration of Parentage (DCSS0909) form that was filed with the Department of Child Support Services.  If the Voluntary Declaration of Parentage form cannot be filed, then the Adjudication of Facts of Parentage process must be completed.
  

For information regarding obtaining or filing a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage (DCSS0909) form, please visit the Department of Child Support Services’ website.

Sworn Statement

A notarized Sworn Statement, completed by an authorized person, is required to receive a certified authorized copy of the amended certificate.  Please visit the Authorized Copy vs. Informational Copy webpage for a list of authorized persons.

Certificate Fees

• Acknowledgement of Facts of Paternity/Parentage require a twenty-three dollar ($23) registration fee, which includes one certified copy of the new birth certificate
• Additional certified copies are twenty-five dollars ($25) each

Processing Times

CDPH-VR processing times may occasionally increase as do the volume of requests.

Currently Birth Amendments are processed within six (6) to eight (8) weeks from the date CDPH-VR receives the request.

Helpful Tips

• Complete all documents in black ink
• No erasures, alterations or whiteouts allowed on the VS 22 form
• This form will assist in creating the new birth certificate

Helpful Links

Acknowledgement of Paternity/Parentage VS 22 (PDF) form

Amendment Sworn Statements (English) (Spanish)

Add Remove or Replace a Parent on a Birth Certificate pamphlet

Directory of County Vital Record Offices

Other Amendment Types

General Birth Amendment

Court Order Name Change

Correcting a Sex Field Error

Sex Change/Reassignment

Adoption

Adjudication of Facts of Parentage

Supplemental Name Report

Death/Fetal Death

Marriage