(a)  A proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child shall be maintained in accordance with this chapter and with the family court rules of domestic relations procedure and/or the rules of juvenile proceedings, except that proceedings for orders of parentage, pursuant to § 15-8.1-804, may be maintained in accordance with the superior court rules of civil procedure.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-104

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Child: means an individual of any age whose parentage may be determined pursuant to this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Parent: means an individual who has established parentage that meets the requirements of this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102
  • Parentage: means the legal relationship between a child and a parent as established under this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

(b)  If a complaint is brought by the office of child support services, the complaint shall be accompanied by an affidavit of the parent whose rights have been assigned. In cases where the assignor is not a genetic parent or is a genetic parent who refuses to provide an affidavit, the affidavit may be submitted by the office of child support services, but the affidavit alone shall not support a default judgment on the issue of parentage.

(c)  Original actions to adjudicate parentage may be commenced in the family court, except that proceedings for orders of parentage under § 15-8.1-804, may be commenced in either the family court or the superior court.

(d)  There shall be no right to a jury trial in an action to determine parentage.

(e)  An individual who is a party to a parentage action shall disclose that individual’s social security number to the court. The social security number of an individual subject to a parentage adjudication shall be placed in the court records relating to the adjudication. The court shall disclose an individual’s social security number to the office of child support.

History of Section.
P.L. 2020, ch. 59, § 2; P.L. 2020, ch. 60, § 2.