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Paternity

"Paternity" is the term used to refer to the "legal" father of a child under Minnesota law. Once a man is established as the "legal" father of a child, he has an obligation to financially support the child and he may ask a court order for custody and parenting time.

Forms

FormsThe MN Judicial Branch does NOT publish paternity forms to use if there is not a signed Recognition of Parentage (ROP) form on file at the MN Dept. of Health. You may be able to get forms to start or respond to a paternity case from a lawyer or law library, or you could check with your local court administrator to find out if they have paternity forms at your county courthouse.

If paternity was established by you and the other parent signing a MN Recognition of Parentage (ROP) form AND it was filed with the MN Dept. of Health, you can ask for a court order for custody and parenting time using the Request to Establish Custody and Parenting Time Forms Packet. See the Child Custody & Parenting Time Help Topic for more information.

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State Law Library

Room G25
Minnesota Judicial Center
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

(651) 297-7651

mn.gov/law-library