[MegDSC12]

I live in Tennessee, I'm pregnant and due soon, and I need to know what's going to go on the baby's birth certificate. The father is not around, though he will be called when I go into labor and if he shows up, then I'll be asuming he wants to be apart of the baby's life. But he doesn't really think the baby is his, even though I know for sure it is, and I need to know what exactly to put on her birth certificate so that I can get a court ordered DNA test soon after the birth. After reading some of these posts, I've heard that you can't put the father's name on the birth certificate if he isn't present to sign a document....is that true? If I want a DNA test, do I go ahead and give her my last name and leave him out of it? And can I put him on it and give her my last name?
-oh, and the father lives in Mississippi if that makes a difference =\

<3~Meg

[aaron]

If he shows up and wants to be on the birth certificate, he can sign an affidavit of parentage. This can be done after-the-fact as well. Until the child reaches the age of one, there is no fee for acknowledging paternity; afterward, Tennessee imposes a small fee for amendment of the child's birth certificate).

If he does not appear, or shows up but refuses to sign the affidavit, you can certainly give teh child your own last name.

If you seek support through a public assistance program and have not done so, the government will typically initiate paternity proceedings against the father. You or he could also initiate paternity proceedings. If paternity is disputed, DNA testing would be ordered to resolve the question of parentage.

[MegDSC12]

Thank you


Now how do I get those proceedings started?

[aaron]

You mean, how do you file a paternity suit? If that's what you intend, and you're not receiving public assistance such that the state pursues paternity on your behalf, you may benefit from having a lawyer assist you with that.