An Acknowledgment of Parentage (AOP) Form is given to the birth parent at the New York City hospital when the baby is born. If the form is completed in the hospital at the time of birth, the other parent's name will appear on the baby's birth certificate.

If you did not complete the form at the hospital and want to legally establish who the other parent of your child is, you may submit an AOP Form by mail or in person.

For questions about the form or about establishing parentage, email otda.sm.dcse.parentage@otda.ny.gov.

Get the Form

You can get a copy of a blank AOP Form online or by mail.

Online

Download a copy.

By Mail

You can request a paper copy by phone.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

Submit the Form

You must mail your completed AOP Form or drop it off in person to:

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Corrections Unit
125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 144
New York, NY 10013

These applications are not processed on the same day. You will receive a copy of the AOP within two weeks.

There is no fee.

You can check the status of your AOP request if you submitted it at least 2 weeks ago.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

You can request a copy of an existing, registered AOP if you are listed on it.

Download the request form.

Mail the completed request form along with a copy of your photo ID to:

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Corrections Unit
125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 119
New York, NY 10013

There is no fee.

Adding the name of another parent to a birth certificate, typically the father, depends on the marital status of the mother. Married same-sex parents can also add their names to birth certificates.

Marriage records or other documents must be submitted with the application. In cases where the parent has been married more than once, divorce records must also be submitted.

Additional details about specific situations are provided in the form Correcting a Birth Certificate.

Learn about correcting a birth certificate.

Download a Birth Certificate Application.

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