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View Full Version : Can you add a father's name to a Birth certificate as an adult?


Dreama
Jul 26, 2009, 12:34 PM
I am an adult born in NYC and under father on my birth certificate it is blank. I found my father and he is willing to sign papers stating he is my father. My parents were never married and I don't have his last name. Can this be done and what is the process?

house11674
Jul 26, 2009, 12:49 PM
I believe that it should be no problem to add your fathers name. Simply go to the Vital statistics office and pay a small fee (unless your father is a vet then double check it may be free). And you should be able to make the correction without any problems. Good Luck and regardless, as long as you know who your father is that is all that really matters.

cdad
Jul 26, 2009, 01:54 PM
I hate to sound like a skeptic but if the man you believe is your father wants to sign on a borth certificate then you really need to get a DNA test first just to make sure.

Dreama
Jul 26, 2009, 02:29 PM
There was no question all along that he was my father. I just couldn't locate him cause he skipped out on my mom when she was pregnant. He doesn't even want to bother with a Dna test or pay for one and there are no other possibilities to test.

Fr_Chuck
Jul 26, 2009, 02:42 PM
The issue is not "you knowing" or "him knowing" the issue will be proving to the court he is your father,with evidence the court will accept. And it is not as simple as him merely "signing:" a birth certificate, a new certificate will have to be issued with him added.

And of course you can pay for the test, but he can not be forced to take one.

ScottGem
Jul 26, 2009, 03:01 PM
A birth certificate is a legal document. Most places require a court order to make changes to one.

On the other hand, as an adult you can apply for a legal name change and no DNA test or permission is required.