A court order or acknowledgment of paternity is needed to proceed with adding a father as a birth amendment.
The Michigan Department of Community Health maintains the records for all births, deaths and marriages that occur within the state. Michigan law limits the conditions under which a father can be added to a birth record. Should an individual want to add a father, he must be one of a number of people eligible to make changes to the document. In addition, he must provide documentation substantiating the request.
Instructions
1. Visit the Michigan Department of Community Health website. Download the application to add a father. Note that this application shouldn't be used to change fathers or to remove one.
2. Read the application carefully, particularly the section on eligibility. Only the individual whose birth is listed on the record, provided she is at least 18, the parent listed or to be listed on the birth record, a legal guardian or legal representative may apply for an amendment to the birth record.
3. Review the section on required documentation and determine whether you need to submit an Affidavit of Parentage or court order. Essentially, if an Affidavit of Parentage or Order of Filiation or court order was filed with the Central Paternity Registry, then you need not supply any documentation. If it was never submitted, you must submit one with the application.
4. Contact the Changes Unit at 517-335-8660 and request an Affidavit of Parentage if needed. This acknowledgment of paternity is not needed if you have a court order to submit instead.
5. Complete the Application to Add a Father on a Michigan Birth Record. Photocopy your government-issued identification for inclusion with your application. Acceptable forms of identification include your driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, passport card or military ID. If you don't have an acceptable form of identification, review the application for possible documents you might include to substantiate your identity.
6. Include the appropriate fees in the form of a check or money order made out to "State of Michigan." As of April 2011, the fee for adding a father's name to a birth record was $40. The fee includes the one free copy of the document. Additional copies can be included for a fee of $12 each.
7. Mail the application, appropriate fees and any substantiating documentation to the Vital Records Changes Department. The address can be found at the top right of the application.
Tags: court order, Affidavit Parentage, acknowledgment paternity, acknowledgment paternity needed, adding father, appropriate fees, birth record
