Paternity

questions & answers

Question: My sister recently had a child & her boyfriend signed the birth certificate & the baby has his last name. Recently, they found out he isn't the father. How does he go about removing his name & changing her last name?

Answer: This answer is for general information only. To see how the law applies to your specific case, please consult a lawyer. The Arizona Office of Vital Records handles amendments and corrections to vital records (including birth certificates). Their website contains information regarding the processes and fees required to change the records. Read their information regarding “Changing the name of the child when the child is already named on the birth certificate." If the child is more than one year old, then a court order is required to change the child’s name, as required by Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-118. ARS 36-337 also provides guidelines for amending a birth certificate. The statute states that the state registrar can change the father’s name if there is a court order or if paternity is voluntarily established. To read how to voluntarily establish paternity, review ARS 25-812.