voluntary acknowledgement of parentage

The Connecticut Senate last night unanimously passed the Connecticut Parentage Act (CPA), landmark legislation to update the state’s laws and better protect all children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the marital status, gender, or sexual orientation of their parents. Among other things, it gives nonbiological/nongestational parents a simpler way to establish a legal parent-child relationship, without a home study or court hearing. The bill passed the House last month and now goes to Governor Ned Lamont (D) for signing.

The Connecticut House of Representatives today passed the Connecticut Parentage Act (CPA) 141-1, with many Republicans joining Democratic colleagues to speak out in strong support of the bill. The landmark legislation would update the state’s laws to better protect all children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the marital status, gender, or sexual orientation of their parents.

Connecticut remains the only New England state that leaves children born to non-biological, non-marital parents wholly unprotected in its parentage laws. Queer parents, legal and medical experts, advocates, and others testified today in support of a bill that would change that.