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HB 535

PATERNITY: Provides relative to authentic acts for acknowledgment of paternity

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Roy Adams and 18 co-sponsors

HB 535 lets hospital paternity acknowledgments signed by both parents and notarized count as authentic acts to change or record paternity, removing the two-witness rule for adults.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 535

Summary of HB 535 (2026) – Louisiana

Title

PATERNITY: Provides relative to authentic acts for acknowledgment of paternity

Purpose and intent

  • The bill amends the formal requirements for voluntary acknowledgments of paternity obtained through hospital-based paternity programs.
  • It aims to streamline the process by clarifying the formalities and reducing the witness requirement, while preserving the legal effect of the acknowledgment.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amendments to R.S. 40:46.12(E):
    • The voluntary acknowledgment of paternity executed through a hospital-based paternity program must be signed by both parents.
    • The signatures of the parents are authenticated by a person with notarial powers in accordance with state law.
    • The bill removes the requirement that the acknowledgment must be witnessed by two additional witnesses (i.e., no mandatory presence or signatures of two witnesses).
    • Any Hospital-based paternity program acknowledgment has the same force and effect as an authentic act for the purposes of changing or recording the paternity of the child with the Louisiana state registrar of vital records.
    • The provision does not apply to parents under the age of eighteen, who must establish paternity as otherwise provided by law.

Who would be affected

  • Parents engaging in voluntary paternity acknowledgment through hospital-based programs.
  • The state registrar of vital records (for recording changes to paternity).
  • Hospitals and hospital-based paternity programs that administer acknowledgments.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective formality change: Acknowledgments signed by both parents and authenticated by a notary are sufficient; no two-witness requirement.
  • Legal effect: Acknowledgments obtained via the hospital-based program carry the same weight as an authentic act for changing or recording paternity with the state registrar.
  • Exemption: Applies only to parents age 18 and older; minors (under 18) remain subject to other laws governing paternity establishment.

Administrative notes

  • This is an amendment to an existing statute (R.S. 40:46.12(E)).
  • The bill’s action history indicates it moved through committee favorably and progressed through the Senate in 2026.

Practical impact

  • Simplifies the administrative process for acknowledging paternity in hospital settings by removing the two-witness requirement.
  • Clarifies that a notarized signature suffices for an authentic act equivalent, potentially reducing delays and administrative complexity in establishing paternity records.
  • Keeps protections for minors by excluding those under 18 from these streamlined provisions.

If you’d like, I can provide a quick comparison of the current law vs. HB 535’s changes or a plain-language summary for non-legal readers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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