When the mother is married but separated or widowed, how do I list the father?

When the mother of a child is married at the time of birth, she MUST list her husband as the father of the child regardless of circumstances.  However,  she may refuse to supply information on her husband because he is not the biological father of her child.  The statement “mother refuses information on husband” is entered on the certificate.  The only way this can be removed is by court order.
 
•If the husband dies prior to the birth of the child, the husband’s information may be entered on the birth certificate as the father of the child.  Marital status would be indicated as  “NO” with a pencil notation of “widowed” on the back of the certificate.
 
•If the mother desires to show someone other than her husband as the father of her child, she must start proceedings in the courts to determine the true facts of parentage.  If the court decrees that the husband is not the father and the child is declared illegitimate, the decree of the court will be followed in filing and changing the birth record.

Tags: refuse court information indicated