Core Terminology
A legal document used to establish a second parent without court involvement
What is Acknowledgement of Parentage (AOP)
A reference guide used to determine if an AOP is correctly completed and eligible for processing
What is the AOP Decision Log
Washington Health and Events System: The database system used for birth record modifications and parentage updates
What is WHALES
The process of ensuring all required signatures and notarizations is valid and complete
What is Signature Verification
A form used when a presumed parent denies legal parentage, often accompanying an AOP
What is Denial of Parentage (DOP)
A Excel Spreadsheet used to document AOPs that must be returned due to errors
What is Return Log
The section in WHALES where amendment types and items are recorded for maintaining amendment history
What is Record Actions Tab
Ensuring that names on the AOP match the birth record within a 1-2 letter variance for accuracy
What is Matching Criteria
A temporary restriction placed on a birth record until parentage is verified and confirmed
What is Parentage Hold
A standardized list of numberic codes representing counties for accurate processing
What is County Code Table
The final step in processing the AOP, this changes the record from a "Filed" status to a "Registered" status
What is Register Birth Record
Specific mandatory fields on an AOP that must be completed for processing
What is Required Fields
A manilla envelope with preassigned range of numbers containing parentage-related documents
What is a sealed file
The process of updating a birth record in WHALES after parentage is established
What is Birth Record Modification
An amendment type recorded in Records Actions when an AOP cannot be processed due to missing documentation or mismatched details
What is Inactive File
The process of organizing AOPs by county and date of birth before processing
What is Sorting Rules
The official date an AOP is processed and recorded in WHALES
What is Parentage Establishment Date