SOUTH CAROLINA Part 49

Paternity Determination Without the Court

When the child’s parents are unmarried and want to legally establish paternity they can do so in court or they can complete an Affidavit of Paternity.  If both parents are sure that the man is the biological father, they can complete a Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment at the hospital when their child is born.  The process is easy and available to parents if the mother was not married at any time during her pregnancy. Parents simply complete a Paternity Acknowledgment Affidavit with the birth clerk.

Once paternity is established, an order for financial and/or medical support can be obtained either voluntarily or by court order.