Paternity and Parentage Paperwork in California

Form FL-200, Petition to Determine Parental Relationship, revised effective September 1, 2021. Unmarried parents use it to open a case asking for a judgment naming a child's legal parents. The case also needs the summons and a children declaration.

The court says filing a parentage case does not get you a court date. A separate request is needed for temporary orders. Custody, visitation, and support can be requested in the parentage case. We prepare the forms you direct.

The court says it is usually signed at a hospital at birth but can be signed later. Once filed, it has the same effect as a court order, and there is a limited time to cancel it. Form FL-280 is the form for asking to set one aside.

The court says that if genetic parentage is in question, the judge may order genetic testing. It also says a person can be found a legal parent without being genetically related. We prepare paperwork and do not advise on testing.

The court says a parentage case is filed where the child lives. Check your county's court site for local requirements, since some courts require local forms in addition to the statewide ones.