Establishing Paternity in Kansas

Unmarried parents can establish paternity voluntarily by signing an acknowledgment of paternity; birthing hospitals must take part in a hospital-based acknowledgment program, and the state registrar of vital statistics also provides acknowledgment services. A signed acknowledgment creates a presumption of paternity. A child or someone on the child's behalf may also file a parentage action in district court; the state child support agency may file too. When paternity is disputed in court, the court must order genetic testing on request, and results showing a 97% or greater probability create a presumption of paternity. The man named, the mother or the child may bring a court action to revoke an acknowledgment until one year after the child's birth (a signer who was a minor has until one year after turning 18). Unless the action is filed within 60 days after signing or before an earlier court proceeding about the child, the person must prove fraud, duress or a material mistake of fact.