I’m hoping there is another Doper who has been through this. According to CT state law, a child of an unwed couple cannot have any man named as the father on the birth certificate until a certain form is filed and has been ruled on by a judge. Then you have to go back and re-file the amended birth certificate. Until this whole process has been done, the father remains “unknown.”
This is totally unacceptable to my partner and I, for various reasons.
Does anyone know if you can file this form before the baby is born? Somehow I doubt it, but I’m hoping.
Anyone here been through this in CT before? How long did it take for the evil form to get certified by a judge? How much of a hassle was it?
BTW, the laws regarding this can be found here. A frightening pamphelet issued by the state to new parents regarding this can be found here. (PDF file)
“Your name will be placed on the birth certificate once you sign the Acknowledgement of Paternity”
“The form may be completed in the hospital when a child is born…”
Reading the pamphlet I take it to mean that if you sign it in the hospital, you can fill in both names on the birth certificate application, therefore not needing to amend the birth certificate later. A quick call to the hospital or to the government department should confirm this.
I have several friends who’ve had children out of wedlock here - for them it’s just a matter of the father signing the form at the hospital and all is well.
AFAIK, the judge only comes into play if there’s a dispute about the rights/obligations of the father. You and your partner have a kid, live together, all is well and hunky dory, then your name goes on the birth certificate when it is issued, no judge needed. If you were to be split up at the time of the birth, and the question of visitation or support were an issue, then a judge would rule on that - but if she says your the father, and you sign the paperwork, it still doesn’t need a judge’s approval.