How to Establish Paternity in Connecticut
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Connecticut · Last updated 2026-09-12
In Connecticut, establishing paternity means legally identifying a child's parent so the child gains rights to support, custody, inheritance, health coverage, and benefits. Since January 1, 2022, Connecticut follows the Connecticut Parentage Act (C.G.S. Chapter 818), which uses gender-neutral parentage language. Unmarried parents who agree can sign an Acknowledgment of Parentage filed with the Department of Public Health; a signer may rescind it by the earlier of the federal 60 days after it takes effect or a related proceeding, after which it can be challenged only for fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact (C.G.S. 46b-482). When parents disagree, a court adjudicates parentage. Two Connecticut rules are load-bearing. A proceeding to determine whether a presumed parent is a parent may be commenced before the child reaches 18, or after 18 only if the child initiates it (C.G.S. 46b-489). And the marital presumption cannot be overcome after the child attains two years of age unless the court finds a narrow exception, such as that the presumed parent is not a genetic parent, never resided with the child, and never held the child out as their own (C.G.S. 46b-489). A person is presumed a parent if married to the person who gave birth and the child is born during the marriage or within 300 days after it ends (C.G.S. 46b-488), and genetic testing identifies a genetic parent at a 99 percent probability with a combined relationship index of at least 100 to 1 (C.G.S. 46b-500). Attorney review of your situation is available through DocDraft.
Find out where you stand in Connecticut
Where are you in establishing paternity?
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What are the ways to establish paternity in Connecticut?
Under the Connecticut Parentage Act, parents who agree can sign an Acknowledgment of Parentage filed with the Department of Public Health, which establishes parentage without court (C.G.S. 46b-476). If parents disagree, a court adjudicates parentage under C.G.S. 46b-489, usually after ordering genetic testing.
How long do I have to establish paternity in Connecticut?
A proceeding to determine whether a presumed parent is a parent may be commenced before the child reaches 18 years of age, or after 18 only if the child initiates it (C.G.S. 46b-489). This is the general window for adjudicating parentage of a child with a presumed parent.
Is a married spouse automatically a parent in Connecticut?
Under C.G.S. 46b-488, a person is presumed a parent if married to the person who gave birth and the child is born during the marriage, or within 300 days after the marriage ends. The presumption cannot be overcome after the child turns two years old except in narrow circumstances (C.G.S. 46b-489).
What genetic-testing result establishes paternity in Connecticut?
Under C.G.S. 46b-500, a person is identified as a genetic parent when genetic testing shows at least a 99 percent probability of parentage, using a prior probability of 0.50, and a combined relationship index of at least 100 to 1. That identification can be challenged only by further genetic testing.
Connecticut paternity law at a glance
Connecticut replaced its old paternity statutes with the Connecticut Parentage Act (C.G.S. Chapter 818), effective January 1, 2022, using gender-neutral parentage language throughout. Unmarried parents who agree sign an Acknowledgment of Parentage with the Department of Public Health. The load-bearing rule is the two-year lock: a spouse is presumed a parent if the child is born during the marriage or within 300 days after it ends (C.G.S. 46b-488), and that presumption cannot be overcome after the child turns two absent a narrow court exception, such as that the presumed parent is not a genetic parent, never resided with the child, and never held the child out as their own (C.G.S. 46b-489). A proceeding to determine a presumed parent's parentage may be commenced before the child reaches 18. Genetic testing identifies a genetic parent at 99 percent probability with a combined relationship index of at least 100 to 1 (C.G.S. 46b-500).
Establishing Connecticut parentage for a child born to unmarried parents
Suppose a child is born in Connecticut to unmarried parents who agree on the second parent. Both sign an Acknowledgment of Parentage filed with the Department of Public Health, which has the force of a parentage judgment once effective (C.G.S. 46b-476). Weeks later one parent reconsiders and can still file a rescission by the earlier of 60 days or a related proceeding (C.G.S. 46b-482); after that, only fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact will undo it. Had the parents instead disputed parentage, either could ask the court for genetic testing, where results of at least a 99 percent probability and a 100-to-1 combined relationship index identify a genetic parent (C.G.S. 46b-500). Had the child been born during a marriage, the spouse would be a presumed parent (C.G.S. 46b-488), and after the child turned two that presumption could be overcome only narrowly (C.G.S. 46b-489). Attorney review is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
C.G.S. 46b-488 (presumption of parentage)
Provides that a person is presumed to be a parent of a child if the person and the person who gave birth are married and the child is born during the marriage, or the child is born not later than 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, dissolution, or annulment, and includes a holding-out presumption for a person who resided with and held the child out as their own for at least two years.
C.G.S. 46b-489 (adjudicating parentage of a child with a presumed parent)
Provides that a proceeding to determine whether a presumed parent is a parent may be commenced before the child reaches 18, or after 18 only if the child initiates it, and that a presumption of parentage cannot be overcome after the child attains two years of age except in narrowly defined circumstances.
C.G.S. 46b-500 (identification of a genetic parent by testing)
Provides that a person is identified as a genetic parent when genetic testing shows at least a 99 percent probability of parentage, using a prior probability of 0.50, and a combined relationship index of at least 100 to 1, and that the identification may be challenged only by further genetic testing.
C.G.S. 46b-476 and 46b-482 (acknowledgment of parentage and rescission)
Provide that parents may establish parentage by signing an Acknowledgment of Parentage and that a signatory may rescind it, filed with the Department of Public Health, by the earlier of 60 days after the acknowledgment takes effect or a related proceeding.
42 U.S.C. 666(a)(5) and 45 CFR 303.5 (federal voluntary acknowledgment and 60-day rescission)
Federal law requires every state child-support program to offer an in-hospital voluntary parentage acknowledgment, a 60-day period to rescind it, and a rule that after 60 days the acknowledgment may be challenged only for fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact.
Connecticut Office of Child Support Services
The Office of Child Support Services, administered through the Department of Social Services and its Bureau of Child Support Enforcement, can open a case to establish parentage and support.
Regional Variances
Connecticut paternity rules at a glance
Voluntary path
Parents who agree establish parentage by signing an Acknowledgment of Parentage filed with the Department of Public Health, which has the force of a parentage judgment once effective (C.G.S. 46b-476). Connecticut uses gender-neutral parentage language.
Rescission window
A signer may rescind by filing with the Department of Public Health by the earlier of the federal 60 days after the acknowledgment takes effect or a related proceeding (C.G.S. 46b-482). After that, only fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact will undo it.
Marital presumption and two-year lock
A spouse of the person who gave birth is a presumed parent (C.G.S. 46b-488), and that presumption cannot be overcome after the child turns two except in narrow circumstances (C.G.S. 46b-489).
Deadline to establish
A proceeding to determine a presumed parent's parentage may be commenced before the child reaches 18, or after 18 only if the child initiates it (C.G.S. 46b-489).
Genetic-testing threshold
Genetic testing identifies a genetic parent at a 99 percent probability of parentage, using a prior probability of 0.50, with a combined relationship index of at least 100 to 1 (C.G.S. 46b-500).
Who administers it
The Office of Child Support Services, through the Department of Social Services, opens parentage and support cases; the Department of Public Health maintains acknowledgments; courts adjudicate disputed parentage.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Confirm whether a presumed parent already exists
Before signing or filing anything days after startingDetermine whether the person who gave birth was married when the child was born or within 300 days before, which makes the spouse a presumed parent (C.G.S. 46b-488). That presumption cannot be overcome after the child turns two except in narrow circumstances (C.G.S. 46b-489).
Get genetic testing if parentage is uncertain
Before signing an acknowledgment days after startingBecause a valid acknowledgment carries the force of a judgment, obtain genetic testing first if there is any doubt. Under C.G.S. 46b-500, results of at least a 99 percent probability and a combined relationship index of at least 100 to 1 identify a genetic parent.
Sign and file the Acknowledgment of Parentage
At the hospital or a local office days after startingParents who agree sign an Acknowledgment of Parentage filed with the Department of Public Health, which has the force of a parentage judgment once effective (C.G.S. 46b-476). Keep a copy. Attorney review of your paternity matter is available through DocDraft.
Track the federal 60-day rescission window
Earlier of 60 days or a related proceeding days after startingIf you need to cancel a signed acknowledgment, file a signed, witnessed or notarized rescission with the Department of Public Health by the earlier of 60 days after it takes effect or a related proceeding (C.G.S. 46b-482). After that, only fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact will undo it.
File a parentage action if parents disagree
Before the child turns 18 days after startingIf parents do not agree, ask the Office of Child Support Services to open a case or file an action to adjudicate parentage under C.G.S. 46b-489. The court can order genetic testing and enter an order adjudicating parentage with support terms.
Keep records of the acknowledgment, testing, and orders
Ongoing days after startingSave copies of the signed acknowledgment, any genetic-test results, and court papers, and calendar the federal 60-day rescission window and the point at which the child turns two and the marital presumption locks (C.G.S. 46b-489) so you do not miss a right-forfeiting date.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm whether a presumed parent already exists | Determine whether the person who gave birth was married when the child was born or within 300 days before, which makes the spouse a presumed parent (C.G.S. 46b-488). That presumption cannot be overcome after the child turns two except in narrow circumstances (C.G.S. 46b-489). | - | Before signing or filing anything |
| Get genetic testing if parentage is uncertain | Because a valid acknowledgment carries the force of a judgment, obtain genetic testing first if there is any doubt. Under C.G.S. 46b-500, results of at least a 99 percent probability and a combined relationship index of at least 100 to 1 identify a genetic parent. | - | Before signing an acknowledgment |
| Sign and file the Acknowledgment of Parentage | Parents who agree sign an Acknowledgment of Parentage filed with the Department of Public Health, which has the force of a parentage judgment once effective (C.G.S. 46b-476). Keep a copy. Attorney review of your paternity matter is available through DocDraft. | - | At the hospital or a local office |
| Track the federal 60-day rescission window | If you need to cancel a signed acknowledgment, file a signed, witnessed or notarized rescission with the Department of Public Health by the earlier of 60 days after it takes effect or a related proceeding (C.G.S. 46b-482). After that, only fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact will undo it. | - | Earlier of 60 days or a related proceeding |
| File a parentage action if parents disagree | If parents do not agree, ask the Office of Child Support Services to open a case or file an action to adjudicate parentage under C.G.S. 46b-489. The court can order genetic testing and enter an order adjudicating parentage with support terms. | - | Before the child turns 18 |
| Keep records of the acknowledgment, testing, and orders | Save copies of the signed acknowledgment, any genetic-test results, and court papers, and calendar the federal 60-day rescission window and the point at which the child turns two and the marital presumption locks (C.G.S. 46b-489) so you do not miss a right-forfeiting date. | - | Ongoing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Establishing paternity in Connecticut means legally identifying a child's parent so the child can receive support, custody, inheritance, health coverage, and benefits. Under the Connecticut Parentage Act it is done by signing an Acknowledgment of Parentage or through a court action to adjudicate parentage (C.G.S. 46b-476, 46b-489).
Parents who agree can sign an Acknowledgment of Parentage filed with the Department of Public Health, which establishes parentage without court (C.G.S. 46b-476). If parents disagree, a court adjudicates parentage under C.G.S. 46b-489, generally after ordering genetic testing that meets the state threshold.
A proceeding to determine whether a presumed parent is a parent may be commenced before the child reaches 18, or after 18 only if the child initiates it (C.G.S. 46b-489). A separate limit locks the marital presumption after the child turns two years old.
Under C.G.S. 46b-488, a person is presumed a parent if married to the person who gave birth and the child is born during the marriage or within 300 days after it ends. The presumption cannot be overcome after the child turns two except in narrow circumstances set out in C.G.S. 46b-489.
Only narrowly. Under C.G.S. 46b-489, after the child turns two the presumption stands unless the court finds the presumed parent is not a genetic parent, never resided with the child, and never held the child out as theirs, the child has more than one presumed parent, or a genetic parent who could not have known acts within a year.
Yes, within a limited window. A signer may file a signed, witnessed or notarized rescission with the Department of Public Health by the earlier of the federal 60 days after the acknowledgment takes effect or a related proceeding (C.G.S. 46b-482). After that, only fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact will undo it.
Under C.G.S. 46b-500, a person is identified as a genetic parent when testing shows at least a 99 percent probability of parentage, using a prior probability of 0.50, and a combined relationship index of at least 100 to 1. That identification can be challenged only by further genetic testing.
The Office of Child Support Services, administered through the Department of Social Services and its Bureau of Child Support Enforcement, can open a case to establish parentage and support. The Department of Public Health maintains Acknowledgments of Parentage, and courts adjudicate disputed parentage (C.G.S. 46b-489).
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