How to Complete the Arkansas Acknowledgment of Paternity Form
The Arkansas Acknowledgment of Paternity form legally establishes paternity for children born to unmarried parents. Completing this form correctly protects the child’s legal rights and creates an official record of both parents. Follow the steps below to fill out and submit the form to establish paternity in Arkansas.
What You Need Before You Start
Before completing the acknowledgment of paternity, gather the following information for both parents:
- Full legal names and current addresses
- Social Security Numbers (required by federal law for child support enforcement)
- Valid government-issued photo identification
- Health insurance information, including the policy and group numbers
- The child’s full name, date of birth, and county of birth
Step-by-Step Guide to Completing the Arkansas AOP Form
Follow these steps to complete and file the Arkansas Acknowledgment of Paternity form:
- Obtain the form. Download the official form from this page or request a copy from the hospital at the time of the birth. The form is also available at the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office.
- Complete the parent information sections. Fill in all required fields for both parents in black ink. Provide full legal names, Social Security Numbers, dates of birth, and current addresses. No corrections, cross-outs, or alterations are permitted on the form.
- Enter the child’s information. Record the child’s full name, date and place of birth, and county of birth. If parents wish to change the child’s last name at this time, additional instructions on the form apply.
- List insurance details. Both parents must complete the health insurance section of the acknowledgment. Provide the insurance carrier name, policy number, and group number. Complete this section even when the insurance policy does not cover the birth expenses.
- Review all entries. Both parents should review all information before signing. Verify that all names, dates, and identification numbers are correct. Errors may delay processing or require refiling the form.
- Sign before a notary. Both parents must sign the acknowledgment of paternity form in the presence of a licensed notary public. Present valid government-issued photo identification at the time of signing. Signatures without proper notarization are not legally valid.
- Submit the form. Submit the completed form at the hospital following the birth to avoid a separate filing fee. Filing after leaving the hospital requires delivering the notarized form to the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office. A fee applies for each certified copy of the birth certificate.
Legal Rights the Acknowledgment of Paternity Establishes
Filing the Arkansas Acknowledgment of Paternity form grants the child and father important legal rights. The child gains the right to financial support from both parents, inheritance rights, access to the father’s Social Security benefits, and the right to health insurance coverage through the father’s policy. The father gains legal parental rights including the right to seek custody and visitation.
Without an acknowledgment of paternity, these legal rights do not exist. The father has no legal standing to seek custody or visitation. The child has no legal right to child support from the father. Filing the acknowledgment promptly after the birth is the best way to protect these rights for both the child and the father.
How to Rescind the Acknowledgment of Paternity
Either parent may rescind the Arkansas Acknowledgment of Paternity within 60 days of signing the form. To rescind, the parent must complete and file a Rescission of Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form with the Arkansas Department of Health. The rescission must be filed before any court or administrative order establishes a child support obligation based on the acknowledgment.
After the 60-day window closes, challenging the acknowledgment requires filing a legal action in court. The court requires proof of fraud, duress, or a material mistake of fact before it will overturn a filed acknowledgment of paternity. Courts apply a high standard of proof in these cases to protect the child’s established legal rights.
Related Arkansas Forms
The following forms may be useful alongside the Arkansas Acknowledgment of Paternity:
- Arkansas Birth Certificate Form - Request a certified copy of an Arkansas birth certificate after filing the acknowledgment.
- Affidavit Denying Paternity - Used when a husband denies being the biological father of a child born during the marriage.
- Acknowledgement of Paternity Form - The general acknowledgement of paternity form used in multiple states.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Arkansas AOP Form
Can I sign the acknowledgment of paternity before the child is born?
No. The Arkansas Acknowledgment of Paternity form cannot be signed until after the child is born. Both parents must sign after the birth and in the presence of a notary.
Is a lawyer required to complete the acknowledgment of paternity?
No. A lawyer is not required to complete or file the form. Consulting a family law attorney is advisable if there is any dispute about paternity or about the legal rights involved.
What happens if one parent refuses to sign the form?
If one parent refuses to sign, the other parent may seek a court order to establish paternity. A DNA test may be ordered by the court to resolve the matter.
Does the acknowledgment of paternity automatically create a child support order?
No. The acknowledgment establishes legal paternity but does not automatically create a child support order. A separate child support order must be obtained through the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement or through the family court.
Can the father’s name be added to the birth certificate after filing?
Yes. Once the acknowledgment of paternity is filed with the Arkansas Department of Health, the birth certificate is updated to include the father’s name. A fee applies for each certified copy of the updated birth certificate.