Voluntary Declaration of Parentage,
notarized and filed for you
Get the other parent added to your child’s birth certificate in one visit, with both signatures notarized and every form mailed to the right state office.
A Voluntary Declaration of Parentage is a free California form that unmarried parents sign to make both of them legal parents without going to court. Once it’s filed with the Parentage Opportunity Program, it carries the same weight as a court judgment and can be used to add the parent to the birth certificate.
- Notarized in our San Jose office
- VDOP filed and birth record updated
- English · Español · Tiếng Việt
A missing parent on the birth certificate
can block a passport or benefits
When a father’s name is left off the birth certificate, families hit walls later: a child’s passport application that needs both parents, health insurance and survivor benefits, school records, or simply a last name that matches.
A name on the birth certificate alone does not make someone a legal parent. The VDOP is what establishes it, and the paperwork has to be signed, witnessed, and mailed correctly to count.
We make sure it is done once, in the right order, so your child’s records match.
What happens after
both parents sign the declaration
Knowing these dates up front helps both parents sign with confidence.
- 1Day oneBoth parents sign
Each signature is notarized at our office.
- 2Within 60 daysRescission window
Either parent can usually cancel with a rescission form.
- 3Up to 2 yearsCourt challenge window
A judge can set it aside only for a legal reason.
- 4After filingBirth record updated
The parent is added through CDPH Vital Records.
Is a VDOP right for your family?
Check before you sign
A VDOP usually works if
- The parents were not married to each other when the child was born
- The birth parent and the only possible genetic parent both agree
- A couple had the child using donated sperm or eggs
- No court has already decided who the parents are
A VDOP can’t be used if
- The birth parent is married to someone else
- Another person is already a presumed parent
- The child was born through a surrogacy arrangement
- A judge has already made a parentage order
Not sure? Call us first. If a VDOP doesn’t fit, we’ll tell you so before you pay, and point you to the court’s self-help center.
How to add a father to a birth certificate
in California, in five steps
Confirm you qualify
We ask a few quick questions to make sure a VDOP is the right path for your family before you spend anything.
Get the official form
We request the original VDOP from the Parentage Opportunity Program, or you bring the one the hospital gave you.
Sign before our notary
Each parent reads the rights and responsibilities, then signs in front of our notary with a valid photo ID.
We file the VDOP
We mail the original, signed declaration to the Parentage Opportunity Program and keep copies for your records.
Update the birth certificate
We prepare the Amendment of Parentage (VS 21) and mail it to CDPH Vital Records with the state fee.
What to bring: a valid government photo ID for each parent, your child’s full name, date and place of birth, and the VDOP form if the hospital already gave you one.
One office for the declaration
and the birth certificate update
No running between offices
We notarize, file the VDOP, and prepare the birth record amendment, so nothing gets lost between steps.
Checked before it’s mailed
A missing signature or ID detail can send the form back. We review every line before it leaves our office.
Help in your language
Our team serves parents in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Saturday appointments
Open Monday through Saturday at 434 Blossom Hill Rd, so both parents can make one appointment.
Plus California notary fees and the state birth record amendment fee, currently $26.
Everything from signature to birth record
- Requesting the official VDOP form
- Reviewing the declaration before anyone signs
- Mailing the original to the Parentage Opportunity Program
- Preparing and mailing the birth record amendment
Quinnie Do
Bonded and commissioned California Notary Public and IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent. Since 2019, Quinnie’s San Jose team has helped Bay Area families prepare and notarize the documents agencies ask for. We prepare documents at your direction and do not give legal advice.
Serving families across the Bay Area
Parents come to our San Jose office from Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Cupertino, Campbell, Mountain View, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and Fremont.
Voluntary Declaration of Parentage
questions, answered
How do I add the father to a birth certificate in California?
What is a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage in California?
Can a notary witness a VDOP in California?
How much does it cost to add a father to a birth certificate?
How long do we have to cancel a signed VDOP?
Can parents who are married sign a VDOP?
Does signing a VDOP affect custody and child support?
Where do I get a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage form?
Make it official for your child,
starting with one appointment
Bring both parents and your IDs. We’ll notarize, file, and update the birth record. Visit us at 434 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose.
Fingerscan Digital Inc. · 434 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose, CA 95123 · (408) 766-3528 · Bonded & commissioned California notary. We prepare documents at your direction; we are not a law firm and are not affiliated with DCSS or CDPH. Official VDOP information: California Courts Self-Help Guide. Last updated October 2026.