Establishing Paternity at Birth
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