Section 7. Actions under this chapter shall be civil actions. The IV–D agency, as set forth in chapter one hundred and nineteen A, may appear on behalf of a plaintiff in an action to establish paternity. In actions in which custody or visitation are contested, court may appoint counsel to represent either party whenever the interests of justice require.

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 209C sec. 7

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.

The burden of proof in proceedings under this chapter to establish paternity shall be by clear and convincing evidence.

  Previous section
Next section  
 Chapter 209C Contents