If you would like to hear an Oral Explanation of the Illinois Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (here after called the Acknowledgment), please call 1-800-447-4278.

There are legal outcomes, rights and responsibilities associated with signing the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (here after called the Acknowledgment). Individuals signing the form are strongly encouraged to thoroughly read all instructions and information prior to signing, including the parents’ rights and responsibilities printed on the front of the Acknowledgment.

Number 1: The Acknowledgment is a legal document. A signed and witnessed Acknowledgment is the same as a court order determining the legal relationship between a father and a child.

Number 2: Minor parents have the right to sign the Acknowledgment without a guardian’s permission. Paternity is not conclusive until six months after the younger of the parents turns 18, however, a support order may be entered.

Number 3: Signing the Acknowledgment waives the right to genetic testing.

Number 4: Signing the Acknowledgment includes the responsibility to provide financial and medical support starting with the child’s birth until the child is at least 18 years old.

Number 5: Both parents have the right to all notices of any adoption proceedings.

Number 6: Signing the Acknowledgment does not give custody or visitation to the father; however, it gives the father the right to ask the court for visitation or custody.

Number 7: The father or mother, after signing the Acknowledgment, may withdraw his or her action by signing a Rescission of Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity. The rescission must be signed and received by the Department within 60 days of the signing of the Acknowledgment or the date of a proceeding relating to the child, whichever occurs first.

Additional Information on the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity Process
If you are an attorney requesting a certified copy of the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity for your client, it is necessary for you to send a written release with your client’s signature on your letterhead authorizing the release of this information. The letter must contain the parent’s original signature; no copies will be accepted.

If you are the mother or father and would like a certified copy of the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, it is necessary for you to send your request in writing with your original signature; no copies will be accepted. Please include with your request the following information:

The child’s name and date of birth, your Social Security number, your current mailing address and daytime telephone number.

All requests must be sent to:

Healthcare and Family Services
Administrative Coordination Unit (ACU)
110 West Lawrence
Springfield, Illinois 62704

If you received a letter indicating your Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity was rejected and a new form was included with the letter, it is necessary that you complete all of the documents sent to you as soon as possible. If the letter rejecting the original Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity was addressed to the other parent and you were only copied, there is nothing you need to do. A new form will not be included with your letter.

If you are the custodial or non-custodial parent that previously completed a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity and you now want to void it canceling the legal father and child relationship, a Rescission of Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form must be filed with the Department and postmarked within 60 days after signing the Acknowledgment or the date of an administrative or judicial proceeding to determine the issues of custody, visitation or support, whichever occurs first. Only one of the parents needs to sign the Rescission to withdraw the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity. You may obtain the Rescission at the same place you received the Acknowledgment for example: Hospitals, Registrars, County Clerks, Illinois Departments of Healthcare and Family Services and Human Services.

By law, if the mother was married to a man other than the biological father at the time of conception or upon birth of the child, the husband or ex-husband is considered the legal father and must complete a Denial of Paternity form waiving his rights and responsibilities to the child. A Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity must also be completed and signed by the mother and the biological father for the Denial to be valid. A Denial will not remove the husband or ex-husband’s name from the birth record unless it is received in conjunction with a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity. Or, a certified divorce decree may be used in place of Denial only if it specifically names the child on the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity as not being the husband or ex-husband’s child. You may obtain the Denial at the same place you received the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity for example: Hospitals, Registrars, County Clerks, Illinois Departments of Healthcare and Family Services and Human Services.

Information for hospital employees, local registrars or county clerks
If you are a Hospital Employee, Local Registrar or County Clerk and you are requesting supplies such as Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity forms or if you have questions regarding the Voluntary Acknowledgment form and/or process, please contact your Paternity Establishment Liaison. If they are not available and you have an issue that requires immediate attention, please call 312-793-8213.