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Establishing Paternity in New York

How paternity is established in New York: the voluntary acknowledgment form, court orders, genetic testing and deadlines.

Short answer: An acknowledgment of parentage must be in writing and filed with the registrar of the district where the birth occurred; it establishes parentage and support liability without further court ratification. N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act § 516-a

Establishing paternityAn acknowledgment of parentage must be in writing and filed with the registrar of the district where the birth occurred; it establishes parentage and support liability without further court ratification. An adult signer may seek to rescind it by filing a court petition to vacate within the earlier of 60 days after signing or the date of a court or administrative proceeding about the child (such as a support case) in which the signer is a party; signers who were under 18 have until 60 days after turning 18 or the answer date in such a proceeding, whichever is earlier. On a timely petition the court generally orders genetic testing. After those deadlines, a signer may challenge only by proving fraud, duress or material mistake of fact.
Re-verified 2026-10-27.
Source: N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act § 516-a

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FAQ

How do you establish paternity in New York?
An acknowledgment of parentage must be in writing and filed with the registrar of the district where the birth occurred; it establishes parentage and support liability without further court ratification. An adult signer may seek to rescind it by filing a court petition to vacate within the earlier of 60 days after signing or the date of a court or administrative proceeding about the child (such as a support case) in which the signer is a party; signers who were under 18 have until 60 days after turning 18 or the answer date in such a proceeding, whichever is earlier. On a timely petition the court generally orders genetic testing. After those deadlines, a signer may challenge only by proving fraud, duress or material mistake of fact.

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.