Putative Father Registry - Alabama Department of Human Resources

continued from previous pageShould the Department of HumanResources, Office of Permanencyreceive a Petition to Adopt namingthe child, this Office will send thecourt a letter telling the court thatyou have registered as the father.The court will then send a letter toyou and the child’s mother notifyingyou of the adoption petition. Thenames and addresses of those listedin the Alabama Putative FatherRegistry will be provided to thecourt only. The information is notgiven to any other person except bycourt order.Putative FatherREGISTRYAlleged fathers in Alabamahave the right to be notified ofadoption proceedings involvingtheir children.The Putative Father Intent to ClaimPaternity Registration formand theChild Support Obligation IncomeStatement / Affidavitmay be requested from theAlabamaDepartment of Human Resources’OFFICE OF PERMANENCY(334) 242-9500ordownloaded from the DHR website -www.dhr.alabama.govALABAMADEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCESOFFICE OF PERMANENCY50 Ripley StreetMontgomery, AL 36104Pamphlet Series 2001-01Revised 8-09AlabamaDEPARTMENT OFHUMAN RESOURCESCompleted and notarized forms for thePutative Father Registry should be mailed to:Alabama DHROFFICE OF PERMANENCYP.O. Box 304000Montgomery, AL 36130 - 4000All programs of theDepartment of Human Resources areadministered in accordance with the Civil RightsAct of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, andall other federal and state civil rights laws.

Alleged fathers must register with the Putative Father Registry either prior to the child’s birth or within 30 days after thechild’s birth. The putative father must provide complete information and proper forms to DHR’s Office of Permanency.Are you a man who may have achild born out of wedlock?Do you know about the AlabamaPUTATIVE FATHER REGISTRY?Alabama Law (Code of Alabama 1975,Section 26-10C-1) says that a putativefather – a man who thinks or says he isthe father of a child born out of wedlock– should be notified if the child is beingadopted by someone. In other words,the registry was set up for men who thinkthey may have a child born out of wedlockto register so they will receive a letternotifying them if that child is beingadopted. Then the father can contact thecourt if he disagrees with the adoption ofthat child.WHY DO YOU NEED TO REGISTER?If you do not register, the law says youhave automatically agreed (given “irrevocableimplied consent”) to any adoptionof the child. This means that if you donot register and someone goes to courtto adopt the child, you do not have aright to receive a letter telling you aboutthe adoption and your rights to the childmay be ended. Based on current law, itdoes not matter if you have supportedthe child or mother or if you disagreewith the adoption petition. You must registerto protect your right to be informedof any adoption plan for the child and tobe given the opportunity to be heard inthe court where the adoption is takingplace.WHEN DO YOU REGISTER?● The law allows the putative father toregister while the mother is pregnantwith the child or within 30 days afterthe child is born. As soon as you thinkthat someone is pregnant by you, youshould register. You do not have toprove in court you are the fatherbefore you register.● If you have legitimated the child in theprobate court according to AlabamaCode 1975, §26-11-1 to §26-11-3, youmay send a copy of the order and thecompleted and notarized forms to theDHR address listed below.● After a court has decided that you arethe father, you may register by sendinga copy of the court order naming youas the father to the address listedbelow.HOW DO YOU REGISTER?You must complete two forms in order toregister:(1) The Putative Father Intent to ClaimPaternity Registration form and(2) The Child Support ObligationIncome Statement/AffidavitThe forms must be completed and notarized.Then mail them toAlabama DHR Office of PermanencyP.O. Box 304000Montgomery, AL 36130 - 4000The forms are available on the Internet atwww.dhr.alabama.gov or through theOffice of Permanency at (334) 242-9500.Please note that even though you sendcompleted child support forms, this doesnot require you to pay child supportunless you are ordered by a court. Whenyou send the forms, it only registers youon the Alabama Putative Father Registry.It is important that the registry have yourcurrent address. You will need to contactSDHR Office of Permanency at (334)242-9500 to request the registry beupdated should your address change.WHAT DOES THE PUTATIVE FATHERREGISTRY NOT DO?● The registry does not prove or makeyou the father of the child – it protectsyour right to receive notice of an adoptionproceeding involving the child.● The registry does not make a father paychild support – a court must determineyou to be the father and order you topay child support.WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU REGISTER?● After you send your notarizedregistration form and child supportincome statement/affidavit, you willbe entered on the Alabama PutativeFather Registry. You will receive aletter letting you know that you havebeen registered.PUTATIVE FATHER LAWcontinued on next page