Iowa Code § 252A.6A — IA Code / Title VI / Chapter 252A / Section 252A.6A
Additional provisions regarding paternity establishment.
Status: in_force

(1) When an action is initiated under this chapter to establish paternity, all of the following shall apply:

(1) (a) Except with the consent of all parties, the trial shall not be held until after the birth of the child and shall be held no earlier than twenty days from the date the respondent is served with notice of the action or, if blood or genetic tests are conducted, no earlier than thirty days from the date the test results are filed with the clerk of the district court as provided under section 600B.41.

(1) (b) If the respondent, after being served with notice as required under section 252A.6, fails to timely respond to the notice, or to appear for blood or genetic tests pursuant to a court or administrative order, or to appear at a scheduled hearing after being provided notice of the hearing, the court shall find the respondent in default, and shall enter an order establishing paternity and establishing the monthly child support payment and the amount of the support debt accrued and accruing pursuant to section 598.21B, or medical support pursuant to chapter 252E, or both.

(1) (c) Appropriate genetic testing procedures shall be used which include any genetic test generally acknowledged as reliable by accreditation bodies designated by the secretary of the United States department of health and human services and which are performed by a laboratory approved by such an accreditation body.

(1) (d) A copy of a bill for blood or genetic testing, or for the cost of prenatal care or the birth of the child, shall be admitted as evidence without requiring third-party foundation testimony and shall constitute prima facie evidence of amounts incurred for testing.

(2) When an action is initiated to establish child or medical support based on a prior determination of paternity and the respondent files an answer to the notice denying paternity, all of the following shall apply:

(2) (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 are applicable.

(2) (a) If the court determines that the prior determination of paternity should not be overcome, pursuant to section 600B.41A, and that the party 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 medical support pursuant to chapter 252E, or both.

(2) (b) Notwithstanding paragraph “a”, subparagraph (1), if the prior determination of paternity is based on an administrative or court order or by any other means, pursuant to the laws of another state or foreign country, an action to overcome the prior determination of paternity shall be filed in that jurisdiction. Unless the party requests and is granted a stay of an action to establish child or medical support, the action shall proceed as otherwise provided.

(3) If the expert analyzing the blood or genetic test concludes that the test results demonstrate that the putative father is not excluded and that the probability of the putative father’s paternity is ninety-nine percent or higher and if the test results have not been challenged, the court, upon motion by a party, shall enter a temporary order for child support to be paid pursuant to section 598.21B. The court shall require temporary support to be paid to the clerk of court or to the collection services center. If the court subsequently determines the putative father is not the father, the court shall terminate the temporary support order. All support obligations which came due prior to the order terminating temporary support are unaffected by this action and remain a judgment subject to enforcement.

94 Acts, ch 1171, §14; 95 Acts, ch 67, §18; 97 Acts, ch 175, §3 – 5, 14 – 17; 2005 Acts, ch 69, §5 – 7; 2015 Acts, ch 110, §80; 2023 Acts, ch 123, §4, 5