TITLE 39

HEALTH AND SAFETY

CHAPTER 2

VITAL STATISTICS

39-255.  Registration of births. A certificate of each birth which occurs in this state shall be filed with the local registrar of the district in which the birth occurs, or as otherwise directed by the state registrar, within fifteen (15) days of the date of birth. No certificate shall be deemed complete until every item of information required shall have been provided or its omission satisfactorily accounted for.

(a)  When a birth occurs in an institution or en route thereto, the person in charge of the institution or a designated representative shall obtain the personal data, prepare the certificate, secure the signatures required, and file the certificate within fifteen (15) days of the date of birth. The physician or other person in attendance shall provide the medical information required by the certificate and certify to the facts of birth. When the physician, or other person in attendance, is physically unable to certify to the facts of birth within the time prescribed in this section, the person in charge of the institution may complete and sign the certificate.

(b)  When a birth occurs outside an institution, the certificate shall be prepared and filed by:

(1)  The physician or other person in attendance at or immediately after such birth; or

(2)  When no physician or other person is present at or immediately after such birth: the father, or in the event of the death, disability or absence of the father, the mother; or in the event of the death or disability of the mother, the householder or owner of the premises where the birth occurred.

(c)  The father, mother or guardian shall verify the facts entered on the certificate by their signature.

(d)  When a birth occurs on a moving conveyance within the United States and the child is first removed from the conveyance in this state, the birth shall be registered in this state and the place where the child is first removed shall be considered the place of birth. When a birth occurs on a moving conveyance while in international air space or in a foreign country or its air space and the child is first removed from the conveyance in this state, the birth shall be registered in this state, but the certificate shall show the actual place of birth insofar as can be determined.

(e) (1)  If the mother was married at the time of either conception or birth, or between conception and birth, the name of the husband shall be entered on the certificate as the father of the child, unless:

(i)   Paternity has been determined otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(ii)  The husband has executed an affidavit of nonpaternity attesting that he is not the father, the mother has executed an acknowledgment of paternity attesting that the alleged father is the father, and the alleged father has executed an acknowledgment of paternity attesting that he is the father. Affidavits may be joint or individual or a combination thereof, and each signature shall be individually notarized. In such event, the alleged father shall be shown as the father on the certificate.

(2)  If the mother was not married at the time of either conception or birth, or between conception and birth, the name of the father shall not be entered on the certificate without a notarized voluntary acknowledgment of paternity.

(3)  In any case in which paternity of a child is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, the name of the father and surname of the child shall be entered on the certificate of birth in accordance with the finding and order of the court.

(4)  If the father is not named on the certificate of birth, no other information about the father shall be entered on the certificate.

History:

[(39-255) 1949, ch. 72, sec. 16, p. 117; am. and redesignated 1983, ch. 7, sec. 15, p. 30; am. 1995, ch. 28, sec. 1, p. 42; am. 1995, ch. 53, sec. 1, p. 121; am. 1998, ch. 106, sec. 3, p. 365.]