Washington Summons: Notice about Parentage is a court document issued by the Washington State Superior Court. It is used in cases concerning parentage, such as when a legal father is not listed on a child's birth certificate or when a child's paternity is in dispute. The summons informs any alleged biological father that he must appear in court and establishes a timeline for a response. It informs the alleged father of his rights and responsibilities in regard to a case involving parentage. There are two types of Washington Summons: Notice about Parentage: the Summons and the Return of Service. The Summons is the initial document that is served to the alleged father to inform him of the court proceedings. The Return of Service is the document that is filed with the court to show proof that the Summons was properly served to the alleged father.