(a)  An individual shall not be adjudicated a parent unless the court has personal jurisdiction over the individual.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-107

  • 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
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • 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

(b)  A court having jurisdiction to adjudicate parentage may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual, or the guardian or conservator of the individual, if the conditions prescribed for actions regarding interstate child support, pursuant to § 15-23.1-201 of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, are fulfilled.

(c)  Lack of jurisdiction over one person does not preclude the court from making an adjudication of parentage binding on another individual over whom the court has personal jurisdiction.

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