Recognition of a child

Acknowledging your child is a major step in establishing filiation. It is not always automatic. This voluntary step enables you to register your name as the ascendant in the child's birth certificate. As a result, parental authority, rights and duties in the child's best interests will be established.

Any parent can voluntarily acknowledge the birth of a child. Often, this takes place at the same time as the birth declaration, in the days following childbirth.

In several cases, filiation is automatic:

• For the mother;
• For the father, when he is married to the mother.

In other situations (PACS, common-law union...), recognition by the father is mandatory to establish paternal filiation.

In addition, early recognition by the unmarried mother simplifies the process of passing on the family name.

Before birth

It is not necessary to wait until birth to acknowledge a child. Throughout the pregnancy, the couple or one of the parents can make an appointment at the commune's registry office to make a declaration of recognition.

On presentation of supporting documents, a registrar will draw up the acknowledgement document, and invite the parent(s) present to sign it. A copy will be given, which must be presented when the birth is declared.

Required supporting documents:

• A valid form of identification. If the future father presents himself alone, the mother's identity document must also be presented;
• A proof of address less than 3 months old.

At birth

Frequently, recognition is carried out at the same time as the declaration of birth. This can be done at the town hall, or with the civil registrars on duty at the city's three maternity hospitals: CHU Arnaud de Villeneuve, Clinique Saint-Roch and Clinique Clémentville.

As maternal filiation is automatically recorded in the birth certificate, in principle, only the father is required to make an acknowledgement.

The necessary supporting documents:

• A valid form of identification;
• A proof of address less than three months old;
• Any information concerning the child's birth.

In the case of recognition at the time of the birth declaration, the father's name will be entered in the child's birth certificate.

Later

A late acknowledgement can be made at any time after the birth. However, if this goes beyond the first year, only the mother will exercise parental authority.

In this case, the father can make an appointment at the registry office, armed with the birth certificate or family record book. The registrar will record this acknowledgement in the margin of the birth certificate and in the family record book. The mother must be notified.

Birth abroad

Acknowledgement is also possible for children born abroad. In this case, a recent birth certificate from the country of origin is required.

S’il n’y a pas eu d’acte de reconnaissance ante natale réalisé, la reconnaissance peut s’effectuer en même temps que la déclaration de naissance à condition que la déclaration de naissance soit effectuée par le père. Ces déclarations peuvent être réalisées en mairie ou auprès des permanences du bureau état civil des trois maternités de la ville : au CHU Arnaud de Villeneuve, à la clinique Saint-Roch et à la clinique Clémentville.

Les justificatifs nécessaires :

• Une pièce d’identité en cours de validité
• Un justificatif de domicile de moins de 3 mois
• Le certificat d’accouchement

Il est possible d’effectuer une reconnaissance tardive, à tout moment après la naissance. Dans ce cas, si cela dépasse la première année, seule la mère exercera l’autorité parentale. 

Le père peut se présenter sans rendez-vous au service état civil, muni de l’acte de naissance de l’enfant ou du livret de famille. L’officier dressera l’acte de reconnaissance et apposera en marge de l’acte de naissance de l’enfant la mention de reconnaissance.

La mère sera avertie par l’officier d’état civil.

• Une pièce d’identité de la personne qui reconnaît l’enfant
• Un justificatif de domicile de moins de 3 mois de la personne qui reconnaît l’enfant
• Si l’enfant est déjà né : tout renseignement concernant la naissance de l’enfant

Service attendance table

To avoid waiting too long, this table lets you know how busy the service is throughout the week. We recommend that you plan your visit or call during low-traffic periods. This information is given as an indication, and does not constitute a guarantee of actual waiting times.

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