(a)  Unless waived by the parties, a party intending to rely on the results of genetic testing shall do all of the following:

(1)  Make the test results available to the other parties to the parentage action at least fifteen (15) days prior to any hearing at which the results may be admitted into evidence;

(2)  Provide notice to the court and other parties to the proceeding of the intent to use the test results at the hearing; and

(3)  Provide the other parties notice of this statutory section, including the need to object in a timely fashion.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-606

  • Acknowledged parent: means an individual who has established a parent-child relationship pursuant to article 3 of this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102
  • Adjudicated parent: means an individual who has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a parent of a child. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102
  • 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
  • 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.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • 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
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

(b)  Any motion objecting to genetic test results shall be made in writing to the court and to the party intending to introduce the evidence at least seven (7) days prior to any hearing at which the results may be introduced into evidence. If no timely objection is made, the written results shall be admissible as evidence without the need for foundation testimony or other proof of authenticity or accuracy.

(c)  If a child has a presumed parent, acknowledged parent, de facto parent, or adjudicated parent, the results of genetic testing shall be admissible to adjudicate parentage only:

(1)  With the consent of each individual who is a parent of the child under this chapter, unless the court finds that admission of the testing is in the best interests of the child as provided in § 15-8.1-603(h); or

(2)  Pursuant to an order of the court under § 15-8.1-603.

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