Establish Legal Parentage

MARRIAGE:
You are automatically recognized as the child's parents if you are married or joined through civil union:

• When your child is born OR
• Up to 300 days before your child is born if the marriage/union has ended

1. You don’t need to do anything to establish parentage. The law considers both spouses/partners to be the presumed parents.
    
2. The hospital staff — or licensed midwife if your child is born at home — will add both parents' names to the birth certificate.

VOLUNTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
If you are the child's genetic parents but are not married to each other when your child is born, you may voluntarily acknowledge parentage.

If your child has a presumed parent who is not the genetic parent, they must file a Denial of Parentage at the same time that you complete the steps to voluntarily acknowledge parentage.

1. Complete a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP).
2. Sign in front of a witness who is at least 18.
3. File it with the Vermont Office of Vital Records.

If you complete it when your child is born, hospital staff or a licensed midwife will send your form to Vital Records. If you complete it later on, send it to the address on the form. In either case, if your VAP is accepted, they’ll make sure both parents' names are on the birth certificate.

COURT ACTION:
Go to court to establish parentage if you:

• Have any doubts about who the genetic parents are
• Want to challenge a presumption of parentage OR
• Are claiming to be a defacto parent

1. File an action in Superior Court - Family Division.
2. The court will make a determination about parentage.
3. The court may order genetic testing if necessary.

ASSISTED REPRODUCTION:
You must establish yourselves as the intended parents if your child will be conceived with the help of assisted reproduction technologies in a certified laboratory.

1. Complete a Consent to Parentage From Assisted Reproduction.
2. File it with the Office of Vital Records. This will establish you as the intended parents.

SURROGACY:
You must establish yourselves as the intended parents if your child will be born through a surrogate (called a gestational carrier in the law). 

1. Hire an attorney.
2. Enter into a Gestational Carrier Agreement with the surrogate before the child is conceived. This will establish you as the intended parents.