Iowa Code § 598.21E — IA Code / Title XV / Chapter 598 / Section 598.21E
Contesting paternity to challenge child support order.
Status: in_force

(1) If, during an action initiated under this chapter or any other chapter in which a child or medical support obligation may be established based upon a prior determination of paternity, a party wishes to contest the paternity of the child or children involved, all of the following apply:

(1) (a) If paternity has been legally established by one of the methods enumerated in section 252A.3, subsection 10, or by operation of law due to the established father’s marriage to the mother at the time of conception, birth, or at any time during the period between conception and birth of the child, the provisions of section 600B.41A apply.

(1) (a) If following the proceedings under section 600B.41A the court determines that the prior determination of paternity should not be overcome, and that the established father has a duty to provide support, the court shall enter an order establishing the monthly child support payment and the amount of the support debt accrued and accruing pursuant to section 598.21B, or the medical support obligation pursuant to chapter 252E, or both.

(1) (b) Notwithstanding paragraph “a”, subparagraph (1), if a determination of paternity is based on an administrative or court order or other means pursuant to the laws of another state or foreign country as defined in chapter 252K, any action to overcome the prior determination of paternity shall be filed in that jurisdiction. Unless a stay of the action initiated in this state to establish child or medical support is requested and granted by the court, pending a resolution of the contested paternity issue by the other state or foreign country as defined in chapter 252K, the action shall proceed.

(1) (c) Notwithstanding paragraph “a”, in a pending dissolution action under this chapter, a prior determination of paternity by operation of law through the marriage of the established father and mother of the child may be overcome under this chapter if the established father and mother of the child file a written statement with the court that both parties agree that the established father is not the biological father of the child.

(2) If the court overcomes a prior determination of paternity, the previously established father shall be relieved of support obligations as specified in section 600B.41A, subsection 5. In any action to overcome paternity other than through a pending dissolution action, the provisions of section 600B.41A apply. Overcoming paternity under subsection 1, paragraph “c”, does not bar subsequent actions to establish paternity. A subsequent action to establish paternity against the previously established father is not barred if it is subsequently determined that the written statement attesting that the established father is not the biological father of the child may have been submitted erroneously, and that the person previously determined not to be the child’s father during the dissolution action may actually be the child’s biological father.

(3) If an action to overcome paternity is brought pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph “c”, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the child for the pendency of the proceedings.

2005 Acts, ch 69, §43; 2006 Acts, ch 1030, §72; 2015 Acts, ch 110, §112; 2023 Acts, ch 123, §8, 9