Add Father’s Name to a Birth Record
The procedure for adding a father’s name to a birth record varies depending on the parents’ marital status, both at the time of birth and at the time the amendment to the record is requested, as well as the current presence or absence of another name on record as the father.
If a different person’s name is currently on record as the father:
A court order will be required in order to make any changes to the record. Normally an attorney is needed for this type of action.
If the mother was married to another man during the child’s conception or birth:
A court order will be required in order to make any changes to the record. Normally an attorney is needed for this type of action.
If the mother was married to another man during the child’s conception or birth and there is no father listed on the child’s certificate, a three-way paternity affidavit can be filled out. The mother and husband/ex-husband will sign the back of the form and the mother and biological father will sign the front of the form. Both sides of this form must be notarized by a notary public. Parents can come in person to the Arkansas Department of Health at 4815 West Markham, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or they submit a request that the form and instructions be mailed to them via phone (501-682-1214), fax (501-661-2869), or email ([email protected]). Alternatively, they can obtain the form from any hospital’s medical records department and return it completed, along with payment, by mail to the Arkansas Department of Health at the address above. Office hours for the Arkansas Department of Health are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, with the exception of state holidays, when the office is closed.
If the mother and father were married to one another during the child’s conception or birth and no name is currently on record as the father:
An affidavit for correction will need to be signed by both parents. Please contact the Arkansas Department of Health at 4815 West Markham, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, either by mail, in person, by phone (501-682-1214), by fax (501-661-2869), or by email ([email protected]). Office hours for the Arkansas Department of Health are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, with the exception of state holidays, when the office is closed.
If the mother and father were not married to one another during the child’s conception or birth and remain unmarried now:
An Acknowledgement of Paternity (PA) or affidavit for correction will need to be completed. Parents can come in person to the Arkansas Department of Health at 4815 West Markham, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or they submit a request that the requisite forms and instructions be mailed to them via phone (501-682-1214), fax (501-661-2869), or email ([email protected]). Alternatively, they can obtain the Acknowledgement of Paternity form from any hospital’s medical records department and return it completed, along with payment, by mail to the Arkansas Department of Health at the address above. Office hours for the Arkansas Department of Health are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, with the exception of state holidays, when the office is closed.
If the mother and father were not married to one another during the child’s conception or birth and have since married:
Paperwork for a legitimation will need to be completed. Please click here to download the legitimation affidavit, along with full instructions on completing the legitimation process.
- Legitimation Packet (Affidavit and Instructions)
Remove Father’s Name from a Birth Record
The procedure for removing a father’s name from a birth record requires a court order, unless it is done within sixty days of the date that the paternity affidavit naming that individual as the father was filled out. If a court order is required, an attorney is generally needed.
However, if sixty days have not yet passed, a rescission form may be submitted by either signer of the original paternity affidavit.
The form must be filed with the Arkansas Department of Health at 4815 West Markham, Slot 44, Little Rock AR 72205 within sixty days of executing the acknowledgement of paternity or prior to the date that an administrative or judicial proceeding, including a proceeding to establish a support order, is held relating to the child and to which the person executing the voluntary acknowledgement is a party, whichever date occurs first. A copy should also be sent to the Office of Child Support Enforcement at P.O. Box 8133, Little Rock, AR 72203.
