Aaran,

Thanks for the reply. The PDF you sent the link for is a good starting point (I've been there before). The problem with all of the information available is that it's too generic - they tell you what you need but not the mechanics of actually going through the process. The parts of the process that they do go through are more for unmarried parents that have custody and child support issues associated with them.

I have found a series of forms that will allow me to address our circumstances.

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/forms.cgi

On the pull down menu select "Family Law - Parentage Actions FL 200 - 299"

By filing forms 235, 240, and 250 together it appears I can open a case, enter an uncontested or declared stipulation of the facts, and offer a judgment for an adjudication of parentage.

One of the nice things about this all happening in California is the fact that the courts consider the married husband the legal (and presumed biological) father. As I indicated before California law is very clear - if the mother is married she only has two choices for the father's name on the birth certificate; the husband or blank. That being said there is a process for the biological father to be added. Lot's of folks have mentioned him signing a Declaration of Parentage - in California that only applies if the mother is unmarried. Since my wife was married I'm the legal father by default he would have had to open a court case, request a blood test, and prove parentage in order to be placed on the birth cert as the father (this is why they offer the option of leaving the father's name blank so this process can take place). If he had done this he would have automatically been charged with child support and most likely would have had to make a separate case for custody. So long story short, in California the courts don't care about the guys name on the birth certificate - he requires no notification. As far as the courts are concerned the birth certificate is invalid and I am the legal father.

We've had no problems in the past with our current circumstances but I want to get my daughter a passport. The Feds require both parents listed on the birth certificate present in order to process the paperwork.

I would truly appreciate any advice or suggestions based on the circumstances I've outlined above and the forms on the site listed above as well. Am I missing anything here? Are there any other issues I should be looking at with this?

- Just to add in a little more detail here: The biological father lives in another state, he is a peace officer, he knows his rights, he knows how to find us, and he's aware of the ramifications of his inaction for the past 9 years, and he wants nothing to do with any of this.