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HomeFamily CodeDiv. 12Pt. 2Ch. 3§ 7573 Voluntary Parentage Declaration

§ 7573 Voluntary Parentage Declaration

Family Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 7573 Voluntary Parentage Declaration

Key Takeaways

  • •Unmarried parents can sign a paper to say they are the child's parents.
  • •The paper must be signed by the mom and the other parent, and a notary or witness must watch them sign.
  • •Once the paper is filed with the government, the person who signed it becomes the legal parent with all the rights and duties of a parent.
  • •If this paper is signed in another state, California will respect it as long as it follows that state's rules.

Example

A mom and her boyfriend want to make sure the boyfriend is legally recognized as the dad of their baby.

They can sign a voluntary declaration of parentage paper together, have it notarized, and file it with the Department of Child Support Services. Once filed, the boyfriend becomes the legal dad with all the rights and responsibilities of a parent.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 7573 Voluntary Parentage Declaration

(a) The following persons may sign a voluntary declaration of parentage to establish the parentage of the child: (1) An unmarried woman who gave birth to the child and another person who is a genetic parent. (2) A married or unmarried woman who gave birth to the child and another person who is a parent under Section 7613 of a child conceived through assisted reproduction. (b) A voluntary declaration of parentage shall be in a record signed by the woman who gave birth to the child and by either the only possible genetic parent other than the woman who gave birth or the intended parent of a child conceived through assisted reproduction, and the signatures shall be attested by a notary or witnessed. (c) Except as provided by Section 7580, a voluntary declaration of parentage takes effect on the filing of the document with the Department of Child Support Services. (d) Except as provided in Sections 7573.5, 7575, 7576, 7577, and 7580, a completed voluntary declaration of parentage that complies with this chapter and that has been filed with the Department of Child Support Services is equivalent to a judgment of parentage of the child and confers on the declarant all rights and duties of a parent. (e) The court shall give full faith and credit to a voluntary declaration of parentage effective in another state if the declaration was in a signed record and otherwise complies with the law of the other state. (f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020. (Repealed and added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 876, Sec. 33. (AB 2684) Effective January 1, 2019. Section operative January 1, 2020, by its own provisions.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

declarationjudgmentnetmarriedportreproductiondocument

Related Statutes

  • § 7574 Voluntary Parentage Declaration Form
  • § 7541 Genetic Parentage Challenge Time Limit
  • § 7572 Parentage Declaration Materials
  • § 2107 Failure To Serve Disclosures
  • § 20034 Attorney-Mediator Support Disputes

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Family Code. Section 7573.
View Official Source