Mass. Gen. Laws » Part II Title III Chapter 209C
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, § 2 (2026)

Parentage; acknowledgment or adjudication; statistical information of parties; transmission to registrarr

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 2. Parentage may be established by filing with the court, the clerk of the city or town where the child was born or the registrar of vital records and statistics an acknowledgment of parentage executed by both parents pursuant to section 11 or pursuant to an action to establish parentage filed pursuant to this chapter; provided, however, that if a judgment or finding of parentage has been issued by a court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction under the law of another state or foreign country or if both parents executed a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage in accordance with the law of another state or foreign country, such judgment, finding or voluntary acknowledgment shall be accorded full faith and credit and parentage shall not be relitigated. Upon receipt of an acknowledgment of parentage, the clerk of such city or town shall forward the original acknowledgment to said registrar as provided in chapter 46. Upon receipt of an acknowledgment of parentage or upon an adjudication of parentage under this chapter, the court shall transmit to the registrar of vital records and statistics a certified copy of the acknowledgment or order establishing parentage, together with such statistical information as said registrar may require, upon such form and in such format as designated by said registrar, which shall include the name, residence, date of birth, place of birth and social security number of each of the parties and the child, the sex of the child, and such additional information as the commissioner of public health deems useful for statistical and research purposes. Actions to establish support obligations or for custody or visitation rights may also be filed pursuant to this chapter.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1994–2025 · leading case: Smith v. McDonald, 941 N.E.2d 1 (Mass. 2010).
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Smith v. McDonald, 941 N.E.2d 1 (Mass. 2010). · cites it 3× “G. L. c. 209C, § 2. 7 Once paternity is established, however, the father, if not unfit, has a constitutionally protected right to parent and maintain a relationship with his child.”
Matter of Gendron, 950 A.2d 151 (N.H. 2008). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, §§ 2, 11(a) (2007).”
Adoption of Arlene., 101 Mass. App. Ct. 326 (Mass. App. Ct. 2022). “See G. L. c. 209C, § 2. The United States Supreme Court addressed this issue in Lehr v.”
Jc v. Em, 632 N.E.2d 429 (Mass. App. Ct. 1994). “460, § 68, adding a proviso to G.L.c. 209C, § 2, pertaining to judicial and administrative determinations, goes beyond reflecting legislative approval of the judicial principles of res judicata.”
J.C. v. E.M., 36 Mass. App. Ct. 446 (Mass. App. Ct. 1994). “460, § 68, adding a proviso to G. L. c. 209C, § 2, pertaining to judicial and administrative determinations, goes beyond reflecting legislative approval of the judicial principles of res judicata.”
A.D. v. K.S. (& a Consol. Case) (Mass. 2025). · cites it 2× “Pursuant to G. L. c. 209C, § 2, the paternity of a nonmarital child can be acknowledged voluntarily by signing a form.”
J.M. v. C.G. (Mass. 2023). “Chapter 209C also allows for parentage to be adjudicated by a judge by way of a bench trial where a plaintiff must establish parentage by clear and convincing evidence. G. L. c. 209C, General Laws c.”
Care & Prot. of Jaylen (Mass. 2024). “209C, § 2 ("Paternity may be established by filing with the court, the clerk of the city or town where the child was born or the registrar of vital records and statistics an acknowledgment of parentage executed by both parents pursuant to [§] 11 .”
L.M. v. R.L.R., 888 N.E.2d 934 (Mass. 2008). “See G. L. c. 209C, § 2. 5 Although J.M.M. eventually married someone other than L.”
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