Who The Father Is On Paper
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 210.823 — a legal finding of paternity, and sixty days to rescind
In Missouri, a signed acknowledgment of paternity is a legal finding of paternity, and no judicial or administrative proceeding is required or permitted to ratify one that is not challenged.
Sixty days to rescind. Either signatory may rescind in writing, by filing the rescission with the bureau, within the earlier of sixty days from the date of the last signature, or the date of a proceeding to establish a support order in which the signatory is a party.
After that. The acknowledgment may be challenged in court only on the basis of fraud, duress or material mistake of fact, with the burden on the challenger, and child support obligations are not suspended during the challenge except for good cause shown.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA court has to approve the acknowledgment | What the law actually doesNo proceeding is required or permitted to ratify an unchallenged one |
| The assumptionSupport stops while it is challenged | What the law actually doesNot suspended except for good cause shown |
Paternity cases in court, genetic testing orders, custody and support amounts are not all on this page. Whether a particular acknowledgment can still be undone is a question for a licensed Missouri attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 210.823 — Acknowledgment of paternity is considered a legal finding of paternity; rescinding the acknowledgment
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.