Establish Parentage for Unmarried Parents
Establishing parentage in Washington determines the legal relationship between a child and a parent when the parents are not married. These cases may also involve related issues such as parenting plans, custody, and child support depending on the situation. This page focuses on how parentage cases are started and the documents used to establish legal parentage. For full unmarried parent services and document preparation options, see our Unmarried Parents page.
Need to legally establish paternity or parentage? Call 206-578-9493 to review your options.
What Establishing Parentage Means in Washington
Establishing parentage determines who the legal father of a child is when parents are not married. A parentage case may also address related issues such as custody, a parenting plan, and child support.
When a Parentage Case Is Required
A parentage case typically begins with a Petition to Decide Parentage. This process is not appropriate if there is already a signed Acknowledgment of Parentage, if the father is listed on the birth certificate, or if a child support order already exists.
Parentage cases involve specific legal rules and required court documents. Our paralegal document preparation services help ensure the correct forms are completed and ready for filing in Washington State courts.
We provide document preparation services for unmarried parents throughout Snohomish County and across Washington State. Call today to request a questionnaire or to ask questions about starting a parentage case.