We understand that you are expecting a baby soon and know that you care about the future of your baby. It is important for your child to have a legal dad and you can acknowledge paternity right at the hospital. A child deserves to have the love and support of both parents.

To create a legal father-child relationship, you and your baby's father may sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form at the hospital when you have your baby. The hospital staff will give you this form and help you complete it. When you and the child's father sign the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form, the father's name will be placed on the birth certificate.

If you and the baby's father are unable to sign the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form at the hospital, you may complete it at home. Your signature must be witnessed by someone over 18 years old, and by a person not named on the voluntary acknowledgment.

You may also go to your local registrar or county clerk's office, the Illinois Department of Public Health's Division of Vital Records in Springfield, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services's Division of Child Support Enforcement regional office, an Illinois Department of Human Services office, WIC Food Centers in Chicago and some Head Start and Child Care sites to sign the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form.

If you have any questions about the form, please call the Child Support Customer Service Call Center at 1-800-447-4278. Persons who use a teletypewriter (TTY) may call 1-800-526-5812.