Parentage is the legal recognition of the parental relationship between a parent and a child.

Establishing legal parentage can affect a child’s rights, family identity, support, and access to benefits connected to a parent.

• Ensure that both parents support their child.
• Help a child understand family medical history.
• Support citizenship or tribal identity.
• Establish legal rights or benefits connected to a parent.
• Allow the court to establish a child support order.

Acknowledgment of Parentage

Unmarried parents may be able to establish parentage through a valid acknowledgment of parentage.

Court Order

Parentage may also be established through a court order.

When parentage has not already been legally established, the court may consider genetic testing and other reliable evidence.

• A mother.
• A child.
• A child’s legal guardian.
• An alleged father.
• A designated agency of the Lummi Nation.

Genetic testing may be available when parentage is disputed and has not already been legally established.

Program staff must review the birth record, any acknowledgment of parentage, court orders, and other relevant documents before determining whether testing is available.

Testing Outside Washington

Testing may be arranged when an alleged parent lives outside Washington. LNCSP may use a contractor with testing locations in other states or coordinate with another child support agency when legal assistance is needed in that jurisdiction.

Cost of Testing

LNCSP generally pays the initial cost of genetic testing. Under Lummi law, a parent may be required to repay testing costs when the test confirms parentage.

Parentage may already be legally established through:

• A court order.
• A valid acknowledgment of parentage.
• Another legally recognized process.
• A birth record created through a process that legally established parentage.

Being listed on a birth certificate does not automatically answer every legal question. Program staff must review how the birth record was created and whether other parentage documents or court orders exist.

Can DNA Testing Be Ordered if a Parent Is Listed on the Birth Certificate?

Not automatically.

A birth certificate may reflect that parentage has already been legally established.

LNCSP cannot use genetic testing to challenge or disestablish parentage that is already legally established. Staff must review the birth record, any acknowledgment of parentage, court orders, and other relevant documents before determining whether testing is available.

LNCSP does not provide genetic testing for the purpose of disputing or disestablishing parentage that has already been legally established.

A person seeking to challenge an existing legal determination may need to pursue a separate legal process.

What Can Happen if Someone Does Not Appear?

If a person fails to appear during a parentage proceeding, including a scheduled genetic test, the court may enter a default judgment. A default judgment may establish parentage and may also lead to a child support order.

1. The parent-child legal relationship is recognized.
2. The child may gain legal rights or benefits connected to the parent.
3. The court may consider establishing a child support obligation.
4. LNCSP may petition the court to establish a child support order.

Contact the Program

Parentage depends on the documents, legal history, and facts of each case. Program staff can review available information and explain whether parentage services or genetic testing may be available.

Call (360) 312-2235

Office Location

Lummi Nation Child Support Program
Child Support Department
2665 Kwina Road
Bellingham, WA 98226

Walk-ins are accepted. No after-hours document or payment drop-off is available.

Phone, Fax, and Hours

Phone: (360) 312-2235
Fax: (360) 380-6988
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

A shared public email address is not currently available. Please call the office for email submission instructions.