Putative Father Registry

In order to preserve the right to notice and consent to an adoption, an unmarried biological father must file a notarized claim of paternity form with the Florida Putative Father Registry.

FILING A PUTATIVE CLAIM OF PATERNITY

The claim of paternity can be filed at any time before the child’s birth, but can not be filed after the date a petition for termination of parental rights is filed unless by exception as noted in Section 63.054(a)(2), Florida Statutes.

POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES

By filing a notarized claim of paternity form with the Bureau of Vital Statistics, you confirm your willingness and intent to support the child for whom paternity is claimed in accordance with state law. When you register, you expressly consent to submit to DNA testing upon the request of any party including an adoption entity with respect to the child referenced in the claim of paternity.

Your failure to file a claim of paternity with the registry before the date a petition for termination of parental rights is filed will affect your parental rights. A putative father not married to the mother of the child and who fails to file with the Putative Father Registry is also barred from filing a paternity claim, pursuant to Chapter 742, Florida Statutes.

VOLUNTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PATERNITY

For full details on how to file a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity (adding a father’s name to a birth record) see Section 742.10, Florida Statutes.

FORMS

In accordance with Section 63.054, Florida Statutes, the Putative Father Registry forms are available in English, Spanish and Creole. Forms can be obtained locally from county health departments; offices of the Department of Children and Families; offices of the Clerks of the Circuit Court; or you can contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics, (904) 359-6900, extension 9001. Forms are also available on the Web sites of these local offices and the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

ONLINE FORMS: www.doh.state.fl.us/planning_eval/vital_statistics/Putative.htm.

TO FILE A CLAIM Look under “Filing a Claim of Paternity.” Download DH1965 for English, DH1965S for Spanish and DH1965H for Haitian-Creole.

TO UPDATE A CLAIM Look under “Updating Information in Registry or Filing a Revocation.” Download DH1964 for English, DH1964S for Spanish and DH1964H for Haitian-Creole.

TO SEARCH THE REGISTRY Look under “Searching the Registry.” Download DH1963 for English, DH1963S for Spanish and DH1963H for Haitian-Creole.

ADDING A FATHER TO A BIRTH RECORD

To add a father to a child’s birth record pursuant to Section 742.10, Florida Statutes, call the Bureau of Vital Statistics, (904) 359-6900, extension 9004. For more information on changing a birth record, visit www.doh.state.fl.us/planning_eval/vital_statistics/ammend. htm#Paternity.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact the Florida Putative Father Registry; Bureau of Vital Statistics; P.O. Box 210; Jacksonville, Florida 32231-0042. Or online: www.doh.state.fl.us/planning_eval/vital_statistics/index.html. The registry’s physical address is 1217 Pearl Street; Jacksonville, Florida 32202; telephone, (904) 359-6900, extension 9001.