Federal Forms Keep Asking Parents to Confirm Who Dad Is
Published Date: 11/4/2026
Notice
Summary
The government is asking to keep using the current forms that parents sign to officially say who a child's dad is, with no changes to the forms themselves. This affects parents of kids born outside marriage, hospitals, and state agencies, making the process smoother thanks to better technology. Comments on this plan are open until December 4, 2026, and there’s no new cost involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
40% Drop in Estimated Time Burden
Advances in automation and digital delivery (for example, electronic devices in hospitals) and removal of ordering brochures from the burden calculation have led to a 40 percent overall decrease in estimated annual burden versus the 2024 estimate. The notice reports an estimated total annual burden of 368,588 hours, including 1,372,816 paternity acknowledgment responses at 0.17 hours per response (233,379 hours).
3‑Year Extension of Paternity Forms
The Office of Child Support Enforcement is requesting a 3‑year extension to keep using the current Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity forms with no changes to the required data elements. Comments on this request are due December 4, 2026, and the agency states there are no new costs for parents or partners.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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