ROD 19 - Parental Affidavit, printed on the form as the Parent and Child Affidavit, is a District of Columbia document issued under the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) and its Recorder of Deeds. On it, named parents and children state under penalty of law that they are legally related to each other as stated, and a notary public completes the closing block. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original PDF is published by OTR at the official link below.
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What is ROD 19?
ROD 19 - Parental Affidavit, titled Parent and Child Affidavit on the form itself, is a Government of the District of Columbia document in which named parents and children state under penalty of law that they are legally related to each other as stated.
The form carries the heading of the Office of Tax and Revenue, Recorder of Deeds, 1101 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, phone (202)727-5374. Its header has boxes for Square, Suffix and Lot. The body has space for the printed names of up to two parents (Parent 1 and Parent 2) and up to two children (Child 1 and Child 2), followed by the statement that the named individuals are legally related as stated.
The affirmation is made by the Affiant/Parent/Child, who acknowledges that any false statement or misrepresentation on the form is punishable by criminal penalties under D.C. Official Code Sections §47-4106 and §22-2405. The form has four signature-and-date lines and ends with a notary block for the District of Columbia: the notary records the day, month and year the statement was signed and affirmed, the name(s) of the person(s) making it, and the date the commission expires.
The form states no purpose beyond affirming the family relationship.
Who needs to file ROD 19?
The form is for parents and children who need to affirm in writing that they are legally related, as the printed statement says. It has room for two parents and two children, so a single affidavit can name both parents and up to two children.
The affirmation is made by the Affiant/Parent/Child. The form provides four signature-and-date lines, so each person making the statement signs and dates it, and the notary block records the name(s) of the person(s) making the statement.
Everyone who signs does so under penalty of law and accepts that a false statement or misrepresentation is punishable by criminal penalties under D.C. Official Code Sections §47-4106 and §22-2405. Only people who can truthfully state the legal relationship should sign.
The form does not say who is required to use it or in which transactions it is requested. For that question, contact the Recorder of Deeds at (202)727-5374, the phone number printed on the form.
How to fill out ROD 19
Enter Square, Suffix and Lot
In the header, fill in the Square, Suffix and Lot boxes that appear beside the Office of Tax and Revenue heading.
Print the parents' names
Write the name of Parent 1 and, if there is a second parent, Parent 2 in the boxes labeled Print Name of Parent 1 and Print Name of Parent 2.
Print the children's names
Write the name of Child 1 and, if applicable, Child 2 in the boxes labeled Print Name of Child 1 and Print Name of Child 2.
Read the affirmation
Confirm that the names are legally related as stated, and that you accept the penalty-of-law statement and the criminal penalties it cites under D.C. Official Code §47-4106 and §22-2405.
Sign and date each line
Each person making the statement completes one of the four Signature and Date lines. Do this in front of the notary.
Have the notary complete the block
Under DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, the notary enters the day, month and year, the name(s) of the person(s) making the statement, signs as Notary Public and writes the My Commission Expires date.
Review, download and deliver
Check every name and date, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Confirm with the Recorder of Deeds how the signed affidavit should be delivered, as described under How to submit.
How to submit ROD 19
The form prints no submission channel of its own. Its heading identifies the Office of Tax and Revenue, Recorder of Deeds, 1101 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, phone (202)727-5374.
- Notarize first: the signatures are affirmed before a notary public, who completes the block at the bottom of the form.
- Confirm delivery: call the Recorder of Deeds at (202)727-5374 to ask how and where the signed affidavit should be delivered for your situation.
- Agency page: the form is published at https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/publication/rod-19-parental-affidavit.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the agency's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing without a notary present: the form ends with a notary block stating the statement was signed and affirmed before the notary.
- Leaving the notary block incomplete, including the date of signing, the name(s) of the person(s) making the statement or the commission expiration date.
- Skipping the signature and date for one of the people making the statement; the form has a signature and date line for each.
- Entering a relationship that is not accurate: the form warns that false statements or misrepresentations are punishable by criminal penalties under D.C. Official Code §47-4106 and §22-2405.
- Leaving Square, Suffix or Lot blank when the form asks for them in its header.
- Writing a name in a Parent or Child box other than the printed legal name; the boxes ask for printed names.
- Assuming the form states where to send it; the only address printed is the Recorder of Deeds heading, so confirm delivery with that office.
Frequently asked questions
What is ROD 19 - Parental Affidavit?
ROD 19 - Parental Affidavit is a District of Columbia form, printed as the Parent and Child Affidavit, in which named parents and children state under penalty of law that they are legally related as stated. It carries the Office of Tax and Revenue, Recorder of Deeds heading.
Does the ROD 19 Parental Affidavit need to be notarized?
Yes, the form is built for it. The bottom of the page is a notary block for the District of Columbia stating that the statement was signed and affirmed before the notary, with the date, the name(s) of the person(s) making it and the commission expiration.
How many parents and children can I list on the ROD 19 form?
The form has space for two parents (Parent 1 and Parent 2) and two children (Child 1 and Child 2). It also has four signature-and-date lines for those making the statement.
What happens if I put false information on the Parent and Child Affidavit?
The form states that any false statement or misrepresentation is punishable by criminal penalties under D.C. Official Code Sections §47-4106 and §22-2405. You affirm the statement under penalty of law when you sign, so only enter information that is accurate.
Where do I send the ROD 19 Parental Affidavit?
The form prints no delivery instructions. Its heading names the Office of Tax and Revenue, Recorder of Deeds, 1101 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, phone (202)727-5374. Call that number to confirm how the signed affidavit should be delivered for your situation.
Can I fill out the DC Parental Affidavit online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not affiliated with the Office of Tax and Revenue, and it does not file, notarize or deliver the affidavit; you submit it through the agency's channels.
What are the Square, Suffix and Lot boxes on the form?
They are boxes in the form's header, next to the Office of Tax and Revenue heading, labeled Square, Suffix and Lot. The form does not explain them further, so call the Recorder of Deeds at (202)727-5374 if you are unsure what to enter.
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