§ 5111. Noncustodial parents

(a) If a child is placed in the legal custody of the Department and the identity of a parent has not been legally established at the time the petition is filed, the court may order that the child and the child’s alleged genetic parents submit to genetic testing and may issue an order establishing parentage pursuant to 15C V.S.A. § chapters 1-8 (parentage proceedings). A parentage order issued pursuant to this subsection shall not be deemed to be a confidential record.

(b) If a child is placed in the legal custody of the Department, the Department shall make reasonably diligent efforts to locate a noncustodial parent as early in the proceedings as possible, and notify the court of the noncustodial parent’s address. A hearing shall not be delayed by reason of the inability of the Department to locate or serve a noncustodial parent.

(c) The court may order a custodial parent to provide the Department with information regarding the identity and location of a noncustodial parent.

(d) As soon as his or her address is known, a noncustodial parent shall be served with the petition and a copy of the summons. Thereafter, the court shall mail notices of the hearing to the noncustodial parent. The noncustodial parent shall be responsible for providing the court with information regarding any changes in address. (Added 2007, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; amended 2019, No. 24, § 6.)