PDFWAC 388-14A-3102
When the parents have signed a paternity or parentage acknowledgment, which support establishment notice does the division of child support serve on the noncustodial parent?
(1) When the parents of a child are not married, they may sign an acknowledgment of parentage, which may also be called an affidavit of paternity or paternity acknowledgment. The legal effect of the acknowledgment or affidavit depends on when it is filed, in what state it is filed, and whether both parents were over age 18 when the acknowledgment was signed.
(2) For acknowledgments or affidavits filed on or before July 1, 1997, with the center for health statistics in the state of Washington, the division of child support (DCS) served a notice and finding of parental responsibility (NFPR) under WAC 388-14A-3120. DCS stopped serving the NFPR on January 1, 2019.
(3) For acknowledgments or affidavits filed after July 1, 1997, with the center for health statistics in the state of Washington, DCS serves a notice and finding of financial responsibility (NFFR) under WAC 388-14A-3115, because the acknowledgment or affidavit has become a conclusive presumption of parentage under RCW 26.26A.220.
(4) For acknowledgments or affidavits filed with the vital records agency of another state, DCS gives full faith and credit to the acknowledgment or affidavit under RCW 26.26A.250 and serves a NFFR.
(5) DCS relies on the acknowledgment, even if one or more parents were not yet 18 years of age at the time they signed or filed the acknowledgment, as provided in RCW 26.26A.215(4).
(6) If, at the time of the child's birth, the birth mother was married or in a state registered domestic partnership and the person acknowledging parentage was not the birth mother's spouse or domestic partner, DCS may not serve an administrative support establishment notice on the acknowledged parent unless the birth mother's spouse or domestic partner also signed and filed a denial of paternity or parentage.
(7) If the acknowledgment or affidavit is legally deficient in any way, DCS may refer the case for establishment of parentage in the superior court.
(8) If the birth mother is the noncustodial parent, DCS serves a NFFR.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 26.23.050, 26.23.110, 43.20A.550, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.20.040, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056, and 74.20A.310. WSR 25-09-019, s 388-14A-3102, filed 4/7/25, effective 5/8/25. Statutory Authority: 2011 c 283, RCW 34.05.220, 43.20A.550, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056, and 74.20A.310. WSR 12-01-002, § 388-14A-3102, filed 12/7/11, effective 1/7/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 26.26.315, 26.26.320, 26.26.330, 26.26.335, 34.05.220(1), 74.08.090, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056, 74.20A.310. WSR 05-12-136, § 388-14A-3102, filed 6/1/05, effective 7/2/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.220(1), 74.08.090, 74.20A.056, 74.20A.310, 26.26.315, 26.26.320, 26.26.330, 26.26.335, 74.20A.055, 2002 c 302, and 2002 c 199. WSR 03-17-013, § 388-14A-3102, filed 8/12/03, effective 9/12/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.220(1), 74.08.090, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056. WSR 00-15-016 and 00-20-022, § 388-14A-3102, filed 7/10/00 and 9/25/00, effective 11/6/00.]