Formal registration of paternity in the Republic of Armenia
The process of registration of recognition of paternity in the Republic of Armenia:
The formal registration of paternity is carried out at The Registry Office of the Republic of Armenia. After the registration, a certificate is issued acknowledging the paternity.
Thus in the Republic of Armenia, the registration of paternity is carried out:
- On the basis of statements of the spouses;
- Based on the application of the father, if the mother is dead, or there is a court decision recognizing her incapable, missing, or on the basis of the judgment depriving one of the parents of parental rights, as well as, in case of the consent of the guardianship authorities in the Republic of Armenia;
- Based on a court decision.
The recognition of paternity is registered whether the child’s father is/was married to the child’s mother or not. If the child has reached adulthood, the recognition of paternity may only be carried out with his/her consent. If the child has reached the age of ten years and only after the formal recognition, changing his/her name and/or last name can only be performed by his/her written consent.
When registering paternity the name and the surname of the child are decided by mutual agreement of the parents. If the parents cannot agree, the name and surname of the child are registered on the orders of the guardianship authorities. If for the above reasons, the paternity is recognized only on the basis of statements by the father, then the name of the child is determined by his decision alone.
When registering the birth of a child, should the information about the father provided by the mother at the time of birth differ from the information provided at a later stage requesting recognition of paternity, the registrar cannot cancel and/or change the previously recorded data about the father, as given by the mother at the time of birth of the child, and to recognize the paternity of the person who submitted the application.
The recognition of paternity may also be decreed by the courts when:
- The joint declaration by the parents is absent;
- Based on statements of the parent, or guardian of the child;
- If the child has reached adulthood, or on the basis of his/her statement;
- In case of death of a person who claimed to be the father of the child.
The Court makes a decision based on the evidence presented.
The determination procedure at The Registry Office when carrying out the registration of recognition of paternity in the Republic of Armenia:
The registration process at The Registry Office is determined by:
- The place of residence of one of the parents if not married;
- The place of state registration of the birth of the child;
- When paternity is recognized by a court decree, then based on the location of that court.
Documents required for the state registration of recognition of paternity:
- The joint statement of parents who are not in a registered marriage;
- The copy of parents’ passports;
- The birth certificate of the child. When paternity is recognized at the time of state registration of the birth of the child, the birth certificate is not required.
If the paternity is recognized only on the basis of the statement by the father, then he must submit the following additional documents:
- The application;
- His passport;
- The birth certificate of the child, if by that time the child’s birth is registered;
- The copy of the court decision on the recognizing the mother incapable, or missing, or the certificate of death of the mother, or the court decision recognizing her as dead;
- The written consent of the guardianship authorities of the Republic of Armenia;
- When the recognition of paternity is declared by the courts, the judgment decision on paternity.
When the recognition of paternity is declared by the courts, it is necessary to submit the following documents:
- The application;
- The applicant’s passport;
- The proxy’s passport, or the power of attorney certified by a notary office and if in another state, certified by an Apostille stamp;
- The court’s decision which came into full force;
- The birth certificate of the child.
When the paternity recognition and registration are carried out in relation to an adult, the Registry Office of the Republic of Armenia will require the following documents:
- The application;
- Parents’ passports;
- The birth certificate of the child who reached adulthood;
- The written consent of the adult concerned, with an indication surname selected, if this consent is absent, recognition of paternity is declared by court order.
The terms required to carry out state registration in recognition of paternity:
State registration of recognition of paternity is carried out within one working day after the submission of the application.
The legal consequences of the state registration of recognition of paternity:
Registration creates recognition of paternity rights and responsibilities in relation to parents and their relatives.