A Voluntary Declaration of Parentage (or paternity) (a VDOP) is a government form two parents can sign to create a legal parent-child relationship between a child and parent. It's often signed at the hospital when a child is born, but it can be signed later. There's no cost to use the form. Once it's turned in, both parents' names can go on a child's birth certificate.
Find out more about the VDOP
You can find out more from the State of California's Parentage Opportunity Program (POP).
PRINT EMAILUsing the VDOP is free. The VDOP has the same effect of a judgment (final court order) that says who your child's legal parents are. Going to court can take a lot of time and can be expensive.
Why would my child not have two legal parents?When a child is born to parents who are not married, there are not automatically two legal parents. Typically, only the birth parent is the legal parent. The parent who did not give birth does not have legal parental rights. For that person to become a legal parent, the parents can either sign a VDOP or go to court to ask for an order that says they are the child's legal parent. There may also be cases when married parents using assisted reproduction want to sign a VDOP to get a legal document that says who the legal parents are.
If you sign a VDOP, you give up your right to
If you have a trial, you have a right to a lawyer and to ask any witnesses questions.
you generally have a limited amount of time to cancel it. It's easiest to cancel within 60 days of signing. If you wait for longer, you may not be able to cancel it.
There are also rules about when you can't sign a VDOP. For example, in cases of surrogacy or if a judge has already said someone else is the child's legal parent. The VDOP form you sign has more information about the rules about who can and can't sign a VDOP.
Sign at the hospital when a child is born Parents can sign a VDOP at the hospital when the child is born. The hospital will have the form. If the parents sign at the hospital, both parents' names will go on the child’s birth certificate. The birth parent does not need to go to court to prove who the other parent of the child is. Sign later at a government agency Parents can also sign the VDOP later at certain government locations. They can sign the VDOP in front of government officials at a local child support agency, registrar of births, Family Law Facilitator at your local superior court, or a local Welfare office If the parents sign it after the child’s birth certificate has been issued, a new birth certificate can be issued with the other parent's name. Sign in front of a notary You can ask for the form to be sent to you by mail by e-mailing askpop@dcss.ca.gov, or you can get it at any of the above government locations. You and the other parent can then sign it in front of a notary public. There's usually a fee to use a notary. If the parents sign it after the child’s birth certificate has been issued, a new birth certificate can be issued with the other parent's name.
Once the declaration is signed, the form must be filed with the California Department of Child Support Services Parentage Opportunity Program (POP). The form is not valid unless filed. If you want a copy of the filed VDOP, send a completed request for a certified copy of the VDOP to:
DCSS — POP Unit
P.O. Box 419070
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9070
Once the VDOP is filed, you are the legal parents. If you later need a judge to make orders about child custody, visitation (parenting time) or support, you can file a case with the court.