Child Support Portal

In Pennsylvania, the law states that “hospitals or birthing centers” must give you the opportunity to acknowledge that you are the father of the child born to an unmarried woman.

This is done by the hospital giving you an affidavit to sign that states you ackknowledge paternity.  This form must be signed and witnessed before it can be sent to the Department of Public Welfare.  Make sure you get your copy of the form. 

If for some reason you were not available at the hospital to sign the form, you can proceed to your local county assistance office or your local domestic releations section to sign the form.

If you refuse to sign the form, this will referred to the courts which will do a full examination to determine if you are the father of the child 

It is very important that if you love your child and know in your heart that you are the father, establishing paternity will allow these benefits for your child

• Your name will appear on your child’s birth certificate
• Your child will be able to take advantage of your health care benefits and if you served in the military any of their benefits
• You are giving your child the right to inherit from your estate

According to Pennsylvania law, when a child is born to parents who are not married their is no legal relationship between the father and the child. For the father to be considered a legal parent of the child:

• Both parents have signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity form, or
• A Domestic Relations Section (DRS) or court has entered an order that established the legal father of the child

Calculating child support in Pennsylvania is a very complicated task.  Check out this calculator.