An Act To Allow the District Court To Adjudicate Parentage in Child Protective Custody Cases

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4005-F  is enacted to read:

§ 4005-F.  Determinations of parentage

As part of a child protection proceeding, the District Court may determine parentage of the child. Title 19-A, sections 1558 to 1564 apply to determinations of parentage in a child protection proceeding.

A determination pursuant to this section that a person is or is not a child’s father operates as a determination of parentage for all purposes inside and outside of the child protection proceedings, including but not limited to proceedings pursuant to Title 19-A, chapters 51 to 69.

This section may not be construed to limit the right of a person to file an action pursuant to Title 19-A, chapter 53, subchapter 1 to enforce a father’s obligations pursuant to that subchapter.

summary

This bill gives the District Court the authority to determine parentage as part of a child protection proceeding, and that determination is controlling in all subsequent proceedings, including those established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 19-A dealing with child custody, child support and similar actions.