Who The Father Is On Paper
Fam. Ct. Act § 516-A — sixty days to rescind, and later only for fraud, duress or mistake
In New York, an acknowledgment of parentage, reduced to writing and filed with the registrar of the district where the birth occurred, establishes the parentage of the child and liability for support, and one that is not challenged needs no further proceeding.
Sixty days to rescind. A signer who was eighteen or older may seek to rescind by petitioning the court within the earlier of sixty days of signing or the date of a proceeding about the child in which the signer is a party. A signer who was younger has until sixty days after turning eighteen, or sixty days after the answer date in such a proceeding, whichever is earlier.
After that. A signer may challenge the acknowledgment in court by alleging and proving fraud, duress or material mistake of fact, and the court then orders genetic marker or DNA tests. Neither signer's obligations, including child support, are suspended during the challenge except for good cause.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA signer under eighteen has the same sixty days | What the law actually doesUntil sixty days after turning eighteen, or an earlier proceeding date |
| The assumptionSupport pauses during a challenge | What the law actually doesNot suspended except for good cause |
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 New York attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Fam. Ct. Act § 516-a — Acknowledgment of parentage
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New York attorney.