Putative Father Registry

The Putative Father Registry is a list of the names of men who have acknowledged paternity of a child by completing the Paternity Acknowledgment form or have indicated the possibility of paternity without acknowledging paternity of the child.

The Registry allows possible biological but not legal fathers to provide identifying information about themselves, the mother, and the child so these registered men can be notified about adoption proceedings.

The possible biological but not legal father is encouraged to place his name in the Registry as soon as possible after engaging in a sexual relationship with a woman who is not his legal wife where such union could result in the birth of a child, preferably registering before the child is born.

A man can use the Putative Father Registry Registration Form (no. 3960) which can be obtained in a our office, county Probate Judges offices, or the state office of Vital Records.

Additional options:

Putative Father Registry FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Download the Putative Father Registration Form

Download the Putative Father Registry Search Request Form

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

WHAT DOES PUTATIVE MEAN?

Putative means generally regarded as such, supposed, or reputed to be.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE REGISTRY?

The Registry allows possible biological but not legal fathers to provide identifying information about themselves, the mother, and the child, so registered men can be notified about adoption proceedings.

WHEN SHOULD A MAN PLACE HIS NAME IN THE REGISTRY?

The possible biological but not legal father is encouraged to place his name in the Registry as soon as possible after engaging in a sexual relationship with a woman who is not his legal wife where such union could result in the birth of a child, preferably before the child is born.

HOW CAN A MAN PLACE HIS NAME AND OTHER INFORMATION INTO THE REGISTRY?

A man can use the Putative Father Registry Registration Form (no. 3960) which can be obtained in a DeKalb County Vital Records registrars office, county Health Department, county Probate Judges office, or the state office of Vital Records.

WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD THE MAN PROVIDE?

The man must provide his complete name, current residence address, Social Security Number, complete name of the mother (including maiden name), mother’s most recent address, mother’s social security number (if known), and the name, sex, and birth date of the child. If the child is not yet born, give the estimated date of delivery.

CAN A MAN PLACE HIS NAME IN THE REGISTRY AFTER THE CHILD IS BORN?

Yes. A man can place his name in the Registry at any time, however, many adoptions take place immediately after the birth of a child. If his name has not been placed in the Registry prior to the placement of the child for adoption, he may not receive notice of the adoption proceedings.

HOW LONG WILL THE MAN’S INFORMATION REMAIN IN THE REGISTRY?

The man’s information will remain in the Registry until the child reaches the age of majority (18 years old).

IF A REGISTERED MAN MOVES TO A NEW RESIDENCE, HOW CAN HE UPDATE THIS INFORMATION ON THE REGISTRY?

 

It is the responsibility of a registered man to provide his new residence address if he moves to another location. He can do this by mailing or faxing a letter to the Putative Father Registry manager at the State Office of Vital Records, which shows his complete name, old address information, and the new address information. The Registry manager will then delete the old address and add the new address information to the Registry.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD A MAN REGISTER HIS NAME WITH THE REGISTRY?

A man may register his name more than once. If a man is having a continuing relationship with a woman who is not his legal wife, he should consider registering his name at least every two years.

IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT FOR A MALE TO PLACE HIS NAME IN THE PUTATIVE FATHER REGISTRY?

No. Any male who has had or is having a relationship with a woman who is not his legal wife may place his name in the Putative Father Registry, irrespective of his age.

IS THERE A COST TO PLACE OR CHANGE THE MAN’S INFORMATION IN THE REGISTRY?

There is no cost for a possible biological but not legal father to place his name, or at a later date change information, in the Registry.

IF A MAN’S NAME IS IN THE REGISTRY, WILL HIS NAME ALSO BE SHOWN AS THE FATHER ON THE CHILD’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE?

Only if the registered man has completed a Paternity Acknowledgment. If the man did not complete a Paternity Acknowledgment, his name will not be placed on the child’s birth certificate as father of the child, even if his name appears in the Registry.

WHO CAN REQUEST A SEARCH OF THE PUTATIVE FATHER REGISTRY?

The Putative Father Registry is not a public file. The Georgia Code states “a governmental department, board, commission, bureau, agency, or political subdivision of any state for purposes of locating an absent parent. . . or the department (Human Resources), a licensed child-placing agency, or a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia “for purposes of locating a biological father” can request a search of the Registry. (Section 19-11-9 (e) OCGA)

IS THERE A COST TO HAVE THE REGISTRY SEARCHED?

Yes. There is a $10 charge per name to search the Registry “. . . unless presentation of an affidavit of the petitioner’s indigence is provided.” (Section 19-11-9 (f) OCGA)

WHAT INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED BY THE REQUESTER TO SEARCH THE REGISTRY?

The request for information for a search of the Putative Father Registry shall include the mother’s complete name (including maiden name), any other names the mother may be known by, the mother’s last known residence address, mother’s social security number (if known), and the child’s complete name, child’s sex, and child’s date of birth, unless the child has not been born at the time of registration.

WHEN THE REGISTRY IS SEARCHED, WHAT INFORMATION WILL THE REQUESTER RECEIVE?

If there is a match between the information provided by the requester and information contained in the Registry, the requester will receive a Certification Statement showing the possible biological father’s complete name, social security number, last residence address, and other information that had been previously provided to the Registry by the man.

If there is no match between the information provided by the requester and information contained in the Registry, the requester will receive a Not on File Statement certifying no possible father’s information was found in the Registry.

CAN THE MOTHER ADD A MAN’S NAME TO THE REGISTRY?

No. The Georgia Code does not allow anyone other than the man being able to add his information to the Registry.

CAN A POSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL FATHER COMPLETE A PATERNITY ACKNOWLEDGMENT IF HIS NAME IS INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRY?

Yes. A Paternity Acknowledgment is encouraged. A Paternity Acknowledgement can be completed if both the mother and father agree and if the mother was not married at the time of conception, birth, or any time in between. A Paternity Acknowledgment cannot be completed if the mother was married to another person at the time of the birth of the child. In these cases, paternity must be determined through a court order.

WHERE CAN A PATERNITY ACKNOWLEDGMENT BE COMPLETED IF THE FATHER WISHES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PATERNITY OF HIS CHILD?

 

Paternity Acknowledgments can be completed in the DeKalb County Vital Records registrar’s office, the county probate judge’s office, and at the State Office of Vital Records.

 

PUTATIVE FATHER REGISTRATION FORM

“A man who has engaged in a nonmarital sexual relationship with a woman is deemed to be on notice that a pregnancy and adoption proceedings regarding a child may occur and has the duty to protect his own rights and interests in that child. He is therefore entitled to notice of an adoption proceeding only as provided in this Code section.” (Section 19-8-12(a) Official Code of Georgia Annotated)

To submit this form: View the form.

  1. Go to File / Print and print out the page. Use a separate registration form for each child.
  2. Fill out the form:
  • Type or print all information except signatures
  • Use only black or dark blue ink. Do not use pencil or any other color ink
  • No fee is required for a man to provide information to the Putative Father Registry. No fee is required for a man to correct or change information entered in the Putative Father Registry
  1. Mail or fax the completed form to:

Putative Father Registry
Vital Records
2600 Skyland Drive NE
Atlanta, GA 30319-3640
FAX (404) 679-4730

Get answers to general questions by reading the FAQ or calling the Registry at (404) 679-4780.

If you need more specific information about the Putative Father Registry, your rights concerning adoption proceedings, or other information regarding Georgia law, please contact your attorney.

You may correct or change any of the information you previously provided to the Registry. To make a change, mail or fax a letter to the above address, including your complete name, Social Security number, old information as it was originally entered in the Registry, and the new information as it should be shown in the Registry.

PLEASE CONTACT US

Phone: 404.294.3783
Fax: 404.508.7895
E-mail: DeKalbvitalrecords@dph.ga.gov

Source: Department of Public Health. This information was prepared as a public service of the DeKalb County Board of Health to provide general information, not to advise on any specific legal problem.  It is not, and cannot be construed to be, legal advice.