Your first step is to check with the state that named you as the father. Paternity decisions are under the jurisdiction of individual States in accordance with their laws. Federal law (P.L. 104-193, Section 331) requires genetic testing to be provided in disputed paternity cases at the request of either party. However, once someone has been determined to be the father under State law, the Federal government has no requirement that the case be reopened. In most States, paternity can be established by "default" if the alleged father has been notified of a paternity hearing, but fails to appear.

To find out about State paternity laws which may affect your case, you can contact your local child support office, an attorney, legal aid office, family or domestic relations court, or your local bar association.

State CSE agency telephone numbers and addresses are at: http://ocse.acf.hhs.gov/int/directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.extivdlist  (English) http://ocse.acf.hhs.gov/int/directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.extEspanolIVDAll  (Spanish)

State CSE agency web site links are available on our web site at the following location: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.html

Most states post the addresses and telephone numbers of their local offices on their web sites.