Custodia

There are three main ways to establish paternity:

1. Marriage - If a child is born during the marriage or within 300 days after a divorce, the law assumes the spouses are the child’s parents.¹
    
2. Signing an acknowledgment of parentage - Parents can sign this form:
   
   • at the hospital when the child is born; or
   • at the Rhode Island Center for Vital Records after the birth.²
3. Going to court - A petition to establish parental rights and responsibilities can be filed in family court or superior court.³ The person filing it must provide the Social Security number of the person s/he believes is the father. If paternity is established, the court shares this information with the Office of Child Support Services.⁴ The petition can be filed by:
   
   • the child;
   • the person who gave birth;
   • the person whose parentage is being decided;
   • the Office of Child Support Services; or
   • a representative authorized by law.⁵

¹ R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-8.1-401
² Rhode Island Office of Child Support Services website
³ R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-8.1-111
⁴ R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-8.1-104(c), (e)
⁵ R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-8.1-105