Short overview: If your father’s name is not on your birth certificate, you can still prove you are his child for inheritance purposes in Kansas. The common routes are: (1) amend the birth record or obtain a voluntary acknowledgment, (2) get genetic (DNA) proof, (3) use documentary and testimonial evidence showing a parent-child relationship, or (4) ask the probate court to determine heirship. Which route is best depends on whether the father is alive, whether there is a will, and how the probate process is being handled.

How Kansas law treats parentage for inheritance

Under Kansas probate law, an estate passes to a decedent’s heirs as determined by statute and by facts establishing legal parentage. Courts will treat a person as an heir if legal parentage is proven by the available lawful evidence. The statutes and probate rules that control how estates are distributed appear in Kansas’s probate statutes (see Kansas statutes relating to decedents’ estates and intestate succession).

For reference on Kansas statutes and probate procedures, see the Kansas Revisor of Statutes — Chapter on decedents’ estates: https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch59/, and general Kansas Courts information at https://www.kscourts.org/.

Practical steps to prove you are your dad’s child in Kansas

1. Collect existing documents and evidence now.
   • Original or certified birth records (even if father’s name is blank).
   • School records, baptismal or medical records, family bibles, census records, and photos showing parent-child relationship.
   • Records showing your father treated you as his child: correspondence, government benefit records, insurance or dependent listings, financial support records, affidavits from relatives or family friends.
2. Consider amending the birth certificate or getting a voluntary acknowledgment.

   If the father is alive and willing, he may sign a valid Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity or sign forms to add his name to the birth certificate. In Kansas, the Vital Records office handles birth certificate amendments. For procedures and forms, see Kansas Department of Health and Environment — Vital Records: https://www.kdheks.gov/vital/.

3. Obtain DNA testing (voluntary or court-ordered).

   Genetic testing is the strongest scientific evidence of parentage. If the father or his estate’s representatives agree, you can use a reputable laboratory and chain-of-custody collection. If the father is deceased or testing is contested, the probate or district court may order DNA testing of the father’s stored tissue, bone, teeth, or of close relatives (siblings, mother, grandparents) to establish parentage.

4. File a petition in probate or district court to establish heirship/paternity.

   If the estate is in probate, file a petition asking the probate court to determine heirs and declare you an heir. If no probate is open, you can ask the district court to establish parentage or bring a paternity action (depending on the case facts). Courts will evaluate DNA results, documentary evidence, and sworn testimony. If you succeed, the court will issue an order recognizing you as an heir/child for distribution purposes.

5. Small estate or simplified procedures.

   If the estate is small, Kansas may allow a simplified collection method (e.g., small estate affidavit). Even in a small estate situation, you still must prove heirship — the creditor, bank, or registrar may request a court order or evidence confirming you are an heir before transferring assets.

6. When the decedent left a will.

   If your father left a will that omits you, proving paternity may be relevant to a will contest only if you can show the will-maker lacked capacity, was subject to undue influence, or that the will did not reflect the true family situation. If you are an omitted heir under a will, different rules apply; you may need a lawyer to evaluate whether you can claim as a forced heir or challenge the will.

Who can help

If you can, consult a Kansas probate or family law attorney. An attorney can help you:

• Request and interpret DNA testing;
• Prepare and file petitions to establish heirship or paternity in probate or district court;
• Communicate with the estate representative, banks, and government agencies; and
• Preserve and present documentary and testimonial evidence to the court.

If you cannot afford an attorney, contact your local legal aid office or the Kansas Bar Association’s lawyer referral resources for help finding low-cost assistance.

Common scenarios and recommended evidence

Father is alive and cooperative

Ask him to sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity or sign forms to amend the birth certificate through Kansas Vital Records. Get DNA testing if there is any doubt.

Father is deceased but left DNA-accessible material

Ask the estate representative or the custodian of the decedent’s remains for permission to perform DNA testing on stored tissue or bones. If permission is denied, the court can be asked to order testing under appropriate procedures.

Father deceased and no DNA available

Use documentary and testimonial evidence: affidavits from family members, photos, financial support records, correspondence, hospital or school records naming the father, or other proof showing the father publicly recognized or supported you as his child. File a petition with the probate court to admit this evidence to establish heirship.

Evidence checklist

• Certified birth record
• Any document listing father’s name (school, medical, insurance, baptismal certificate)
• DNA test results and laboratory chain-of-custody documentation
• Affidavits from relatives, neighbors, clergy, or family friends
• Proof of financial support, insurance listing, or benefits showing the father treated you as his child
• Photographs, letters, or other documents showing the relationship

Helpful Hints

• Start collecting evidence immediately — records can be lost or destroyed over time.
• Use accredited laboratories for DNA testing and retain chain-of-custody forms for court use.
• If possible, obtain sworn affidavits from people who saw the father act as a parent (raising, supporting, or publicly acknowledging you).
• Contact Kansas Vital Records (KDHE) early if you expect to pursue a birth certificate amendment: https://www.kdheks.gov/vital/.
• When dealing with banks or the probate representative, present certified court orders recognizing you as an heir — institutions generally rely on court documentation.
• Keep copies of every document you submit to a court or agency and record receipt dates.
• If the estate is already in probate, talk with the personal representative or their counsel early — they may cooperate to avoid court delays.