My parents were never married. My mother listed "father unknown" on the birth certificate, and kept me from my father my entire life. I met my Dad when I was 23 - 15 years ago, and we have had a good relationship since then. My father died two weeks ago, and my mother had nothing but terrible things to say about him, including that he never gave her a dime in support. None of what she's said is true, and I missed out on two older sisters and two younger brothers and a lifetime with my Dad and family. None of that can ever be replaced.

The state of Indiana informed me today that my father had, in fact, paid her support as recently last month, and going back quite some time - and I know he had to have far overpaid what he owed in arrears, since I remember mom saying she took him to court when I was 14 (24 years ago). Yet I have nothing with my father's name on it. No personal proof that he is my Dad.

I want my Dad on my birth certificate, he deserves that much. I would like to know how to make that happen, and what I need to do to get it done. The state child support office will not give me the information, and the county clerk where I was born says paternity records are sealed to me, even though I am the child! What can I do here?

Your records shouldn't be sealed unless you were adopted.

However... you may have to prove paternity with DNA in order to have your father added to your birth certificate.

I would consult with a family law attorney in your area. I don't believe the process is that difficult, but it may be more difficult than usual because your father is deceased.

I don't see how I would have to prove paternity when he was already paying child support. In any case, that would be difficult to do, since he died two weeks ago.

I know Minnesota has a Recognition of Parentage program, but I am wondering if Indiana has the same thing. Legally, he is my father, since there is an existing child support order. I just want it on my birth certificate.

The county clerk's office said they cannot talk to me about the child support order or the paternity case, even though I am the child, since it is between my mother and father. That makes ZERO sense to me.

Technically, it IS between your mother and your father. Your mother was being reimbursed for your care by your father's child support. That's why adult children cannot collect their own child support payments.

Regardless, if he had a child support order you're correct that paternity had to have been determined at some point. The thing is this: it takes a court order to change a birth certificate. It's not YOUR birth certificate, it's the GOVERNMENT'S certificate of your birth.

I'd still consult with a family law attorney about this. It should be fairly simple to do, but you will have to go to court for it.

I couldn't care less about the child support part of it honestly. The only reason I bring that up is that my mother treated me like garbage, and quite often told me I was. So now finding out that she lied about not receiving support from him tells me quite plainly that I was simply a paycheck to her. Which also explains why a child she held such contempt for was never allowed to see or spend time with my father. I'm sorry if I sound malicious, it's still too fresh in my mind. My Dad raised wonderful, stable, intelligent, compassionate kids, and I am still harboring regret that I was not allowed to be raised in a loving, non-violent, and HONEST family.

Thank you for the information, though. I will be contacting an attorney.