| What last name should be used on the birth certificate? |
Back to top |
If the parents are married, typically the father’s last name is used.
If the parents are not married but the father’s name will be used on the birth certificate, both parents must sign a Paternity Acknowledgement Form before the mother is discharged from the hospital. The father must provide picture identification such as a State Driver’s License, State ID or Passport when signing the form.
If the father does not sign the Paternity Acknowledgement Form, the baby will have the mother’s legal name and the father’s name and information will not be included on the child’s birth certificate.
| What if the baby is not named before leaving the hospital? |
Back to top |
The child’s birth certificate will be filed with the State of Georgia Vital Records with the mother’s last name only, no first or middle name. To add the name later, you will need to contact the State of Georgia Vital Records Office at (404) 679-4702.
| How do I get a Social Security card for my baby? |
Back to top |
Northside’s Birth Certificate/Medical Records Department can also issue a Social Security card for your baby if you request it during the birth certificate processing. An application will be completed, forwarded to the State of Georgia Vital Record Unit, and then sent to the Social Security Administration, who will review the application and, if all the necessary information is present, issue the card.
If any information is omitted or incorrect, a card will not be issued; for example, if there is a wrong or incomplete address, or if the child is not named. If you do not receive the card within three months after the application is submitted, you will need to request a copy of your child’s birth certificate and reapply for a Social Security card. You can reapply at your local Social Security Administration office or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL NORTHSIDE’S BIRTH CERTIFCATE/MEDICAL RECORDS DEPARTMENT OR THE VITAL RECORDS OFFICE TO REQUEST A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. Our staff does not process or issue Social Security cards. Only the Social Security Administration can issue a card.
WARNING: Beware of mail requesting payment to receive a social security card for your child. The Social Security Office will send a card at no cost to you. Do not send money or reply to anything but official correspondence from the Social Security Administration.
| How do I get a certified copy of my baby’s birth certificate? |
Back to top |
A Confirmation of Birth letter will be mailed to the mother within three to five days after she is discharged from the hospital after delivery.
Mail the completed Confirmation of Birth letter along with a $10 check or money order to:
Vital Records
2600 Skyland Drive, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30319-3640
To order by phone, using a credit card, you may call (404) 679-4702.
| How can I prove that I have applied for a Social Security card for my baby? |
Back to top |
The Confirmation of Birth letter will indicate you have requested a social security card for your child. Until you receive the card, the Confirmation of Birth letter can be used as proof to your insurance company or caseworker.
Unmarried parents must both sign a Paternity Acknowledgment Form to ensure their child receives important benefits— including social security benefits, health insurance and inheritance rights. The father’s name will not appear on the birth certificate without a signed Paternity Acknowledgment Form.
Paternity Acknowledgment means the father acknowledges he is the father of the child. It also initiates a parent-child relationship with legal responsibilities.
| What if the mother isn’t sure who the father is? |
Back to top |
Blood or genetic testing can help determine who the child’s father is. A child support office or private attorney can provide you with more information.
Yes. Parents simply complete a legal form and sign in front of a witness. Paternity acknowledgment is explained in the hospital after the child is born. Paternity can be acknowledged by the parents at that time.
Parents can also complete a Paternity Acknowledgment Form after the child’s birth at the Vital Records Office in the county where the child was born, or at the State Vital Records Office in Atlanta.
| What if the father acknowledges paternity, but later changes his mind? |
Back to top |
Parents should think carefully before acknowledging paternity. However, both parents have 60 days to rescind the acknowledgment. Please note that a court order will be required to remove the father’s name from the birth certificate.
| What are the benefits of acknowledging paternity? |
Back to top |
Acknowledging paternity gives the father the right to have his name on the child’s birth certificate, and could possibly give the father other legal rights in the future. In addition, acknowledging paternity can increase the likelihood the father will have the opportunity to establish an emotional bond and a relationship with the child.
| In addition to rights, are there responsibilities that go along with acknowledging paternity? |
Back to top |
Once paternity is acknowledged, it is assumed that both parents are responsible for providing support for the child. This may include health insurance, child support and child care expenses, among other things. For more information, contact the Georgia Paternity Acknowledgment Program at 1-866-296-8262.
