7700-602 - Who May Maintain Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage
Subject to Article 3 of the Uniform Parentage Act and Sections 40 and 42 of this act, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may be maintained by:
1. The child;
2. The mother of the child;
3. A man whose paternity of the child is to be adjudicated;
4. The Department of Human Services; or
5. A representative authorized by law to act for an individual who would otherwise be entitled to maintain a proceeding but who is deceased, incapacitated, or a minor.
7700-608 - Circumstances Requiring and Effect of Denial of Motion for Genetic Testing - Factors - Incapacitated or Minor Child
A. In a proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child having a presumed father or to challenge the paternity of a child having an acknowledged father, the court shall deny a motion seeking an order for genetic testing of the mother, the child, and the presumed or acknowledged father if the court determines that:
1. The conduct of the mother or the presumed or acknowledged father estops that party from denying parentage; and
2. It would be contrary to the child's best interests to disprove the father-child relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father.
B. In determining whether to deny a motion seeking an order for genetic testing under this section, the court shall consider the best interest of the child, including the following factors:
1. The length of time between the proceeding to adjudicate parentage and the time that the presumed or acknowledged father was placed on notice that he might not be the genetic father;
2. The length of time during which the presumed or acknowledged father has assumed the role of father of the child;
3. The facts surrounding the presumed or acknowledged father's discovery of his possible nonpaternity;
4. The nature of the relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father;
5. The age of the child;
6. The harm that may result to the child if presumed or acknowledged paternity is successfully disproved;
7. The nature of the relationship between the child and any alleged father;
8. The extent to which the passage of time reduces the chances of establishing the paternity of another man and a child-support obligation in favor of the child; and
9. Other factors that may affect the equities arising from the disruption of the father-child relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father or the chance of other harm to the child.
C. In a proceeding involving the application of this section, a minor or incapacitated child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem.
D. If the court denies a motion seeking an order for genetic testing, it shall issue an order adjudicating the presumed or acknowledged father to be the father of the child.
7700-603 - Who May Be Joined
The following individuals may be joined as parties in a proceeding to adjudicate parentage:
1. The mother of the child; and
2. A man whose paternity of the child is to be adjudicated.
7700-607 - Limitations of Actions
A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection B of this section, a proceeding brought by a presumed father, the mother, or another individual to adjudicate the parentage of a child having a presumed father shall be commenced not later than two (2) years after the birth of the child.
B. A proceeding seeking to disprove the father-child relationship between a child and the child's presumed father may be maintained at any time in accordance with Section 7700-608 of this title if the court, prior to an order disproving the father-child relationship, determines that:
1. The presumed father and the mother of the child neither cohabited nor engaged in sexual intercourse with each other during the probable time of conception; and
2. The presumed father never openly held out the child as his own.
C. A proceeding seeking to disprove the father-child relationship between a child and the child's presumed or acknowledged father may be maintained at any time if the court determines that the biological father, presumed or acknowledged father, and the mother agree to adjudicate the biological father's parentage in accordance with Sections 7700-608 and 7700-636 of this title. If the presumed or acknowledged father or mother is unavailable, the court may proceed if it is determined that diligent efforts have been made to locate the unavailable party and it would not be prejudicial to the best interest of the child to proceed without that party. In a proceeding under this section, the court shall enter an order either confirming the existing father-child relationship or adjudicating the biological father as the parent of the child. A final order under this section shall not leave the child without an acknowledged or adjudicated father.
|