Identify Where to File Your Paperwork

You can file your paperwork in the district court in the county where the child or the alleged parent lives or is found, or in any county where public assistance was or is being paid on behalf of the child. If the alleged parent is dead, you can file the paperwork in any county where a probate case has or could be filed.

If there are no existing cases involving your child, you can file a new case to decide parentage. Once parentage is decided, you can ask the court to decide custody and support for your child. If you want to start a parentage case in Denver County, file your paperwork in Denver Juvenile Court.

Use the courts locator to find the correct court location.

Note: If you have already filed a child custody or child support case, and you need the court to determine who the other parent is, file your paperwork to decide parentage in the existing custody or child support case.

Forms and Paperwork Required

Use the forms link above to download and complete the Establish Someone as a Parent forms. For detailed instructions on how to fill out these forms, review JDF 1500 How to Establish Someone as a Parent.

Paperwork Tips

You will be known as the "Petitioner", and the alleged parent will be known as the "Respondent".

You must complete the Verification section on the last page of the Petition, including the day, month, and year in which you are signing; the location where you are when you sign the document; and your printed name and signature.

Fill out only the top ("caption") part of JDF 1502 Summons and JDF 1516 Final Parentage Order, and the court will fill out the rest. You do not need to sign these forms.

How to Submit Paperwork to the Court

1. Take your completed forms to the clerk at the counter in the courthouse. Give the forms to the clerk to file your case.
2. Pay the filing fee. If you do not think you can afford the filing fee, fill out form JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit and JDF 206 Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees to request a waiver of the filing fee, or visit our File Without Payment section for complete information.
3. Complete any additional forms. The clerk might ask you to complete additional forms. Please follow the clerk's instructions.

Arrange to Serve the Other Parent with the Paperwork

After you file your forms with the court, you must arrange to deliver JDF 1501 Petition to Determine Parentage and JDF 1502 Summons to the alleged parent (the Respondent). The process of having these forms delivered to the alleged parent is known as personal service.

The clerk will provide you with a signed copy of JDF 1502 Summons to be served on the alleged parent.

Self-Help Service of Process will help you understand how to arrange to personally serve the alleged parent and how to return proof of service to the court.

Determine if the Alleged Parent Is the Biological Parent

If the alleged parent admits that the child is theirs, they can file JDF 1504 Admission of Parentage with the court.

If the alleged parent will not admit that the child is theirs, you can ask for genetic testing to be done using either JDF 1505 Motion of Genetic Testing or JDF 1506 Agreement for Genetic Testing to find out if the alleged parent is the father of your child.

Genetic Testing

If you and the alleged parent agree on genetic testing, ask the court for genetic testing using JDF 1506 Agreement for Genetic Testing. Follow the instructions below in Option A to fill out the Agreement.

If you and the alleged parent do not agree on genetic testing, ask the court for genetic testing using JDF 1505 Motion of Genetic Testing. Follow the instructions below in Option B to fill out the Motion.

Option A: Fill Out an Agreement for Genetic Testing

Download and complete JDF 1506 Agreement for Genetic Testing. You and the alleged parent will both sign this form in front of a notary public or court clerk. You do not need to do this at the same time (i.e., you can sign in front of a notary or court clerk, give the form to the alleged parent, and have him sign in front of a notary or court clerk at a later time). You can find a local notary public by looking in the Yellow Pages, on the Internet, or by going to your local bank.

You and the alleged parent will need to contact a testing agency to schedule a date and time for the test. Put the date and time of the test on the form.

You and the alleged parent will be responsible for paying the fee for the test.

Option B: Fill Out a Motion for Genetic Testing

Download and complete JDF 1505 Motion of Genetic Testing. You will sign the form, but the alleged parent does not need to sign.

Contact a testing agency to schedule a date and time for the test. Put the date and time of the test of the form.

You will be responsible for paying the fee for the test.

You will need to mail or hand-deliver a copy of JDF 1505 Motion of Genetic Testing to the alleged parent. After you mail or hand-deliver a copy of the form, fill out the Certificate of Service part of the form, then file it with the court.