Practice area · California
Parentage orders
A judgment of parentage that names the right parents, often before the baby is born.
For intended parents after surrogacy, donor-conceived families, and any parent who needs a court to confirm who the parents are.
Book a consultation Free 20-minute call to startExample fee: $2,500 to $5,500 (flat fee, example range). What's included
In plain words
A parentage judgment is a court order that says who a child's legal parents are. After surrogacy, it is how intended parents leave the hospital as parents and appear on the birth certificate.
In California, many families can get this judgment before the birth. Some cannot, and some states do not allow it at all. We tell you which applies to your family.
Parentage judgments also help donor-conceived families, unmarried parents, and families who want a clear court order on its own or alongside an adoption.
Situations we help with
- Pre-birth judgments after surrogacy
- Post-birth judgments
- Donor-conceived families
- Unmarried or solo parents
- More than two parents, where a court allows it
- Correcting a birth certificate
- Intended parents from other countries
- Hospital paperwork and birth plans
Step by step
How it usually goes
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1
A free 20-minute call
We confirm the due date, the hospital and the county, and what records the court will want to see.
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2
Petition and declarations
We file with your agreement and the clinic's records. The surrogate's lawyer signs off on their side.
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3
The court's decision
Some judges decide on the papers and some hold a short hearing. We prepare you for either.
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4
Delivered to the hospital
We send the judgment where it needs to go, so the birth certificate names the right parents.
No lawyer can promise an outcome or a date. Courts, agencies, clinics and other states all move at their own pace. We tell you what we know, when we know it. Things that often change the pace:
- The court's calendar
- Home study scheduling
- Another state's approval
- A party who is hard to reach
- Medical timing
- Records from a clinic or agency
- Another country's paperwork
Example fee
$2,500 to $5,500
Flat fee, example range. Pre-birth judgments with complete clinic records usually sit near the low end.
Included
- Petition and declarations
- Court filings
- Any hearing
- Delivery to the hospital and vital records
Paid separately
- Court filing fees
- Certified copies
- Local counsel if the birth is in another state
Your exact fee is in your plan letter before you sign. Payment plans are available. All fees
Rules differ by place
Whether a judgment can be issued before birth, and how a birth certificate is issued, depends on the state where the baby is born. Another country may also need its own steps before it recognizes the judgment.
We practice California law, and bring in licensed local counsel when another state or country is involved.
General information
This website is general information, not legal advice. Reading it, calling us or sending a form does not make Kith & Kin your lawyer. That happens only when we both sign an engagement letter.
Questions about parentage orders
Will both of us be named on the birth certificate?
That is the purpose of the judgment, and it is how most California parentage judgments work. We can't promise how another state or country will record it.
When should we start?
Many families start in the second trimester so there is room for the court's own pace. Earlier is easier; later is still possible.
Do we still need an adoption afterward?
Some families add one for extra protection, especially if they may move abroad. We help you decide.
Other paths families take
Free 20-minute call
Plan your parentage judgment early.
A free 20-minute call with an attorney who does this work every week. You will hear which steps apply to you, what California asks for, and what an example fee of $2,500 to $5,500 would cover.
Prefer to text? (510) 555-0163. Dee replies within one business day.