California Paternity and Parentage Resources

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When parents were never married, parentage usually has to be established before a court will set a schedule or an amount of support. In California that case is handled by the Superior Court, usually in the Family Law Division.

Establishing parentage is what gives a father the standing to ask for time with his child, and it is what lets either parent ask the court for support. In many states the same case can settle parentage, the parenting schedule, and child support together.

Official California paternity resources

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California family law forms (official index) (California judicial branch): The official statewide collection of California family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm?filter=FL

California court self-help resources (California courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own California family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp.htm

California child support guideline resources (courts.ca.gov): Official California child support guideline materials, worksheets, or calculators. https://www.courts.ca.gov/1195.htm

Verified official California parentage documents

These official documents are used to establish or contest parentage in California.

Petition to Determine Parental Relationship (FL-200), form FL-200 (Parentage), official document: https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/fl200.pdf

Summons (Uniform Parentage) (FL-210), form FL-210 (Parentage), official document: https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/fl210.pdf

Response to Petition to Determine Parental Relationship (FL-220), form FL-220 (Parentage), official document: https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/fl220.pdf

Official link data for California was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

Does signing the birth certificate settle everything?

A voluntary acknowledgment can establish parentage, but on its own it does not create a parenting schedule or a support order. Those come from a court case.

Can parentage, custody, and support be handled together?

In many states one case can cover all three. Check the official California forms and self-help material above to see how this state organizes it.