Source: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title13/c008/sc03/index.shtml
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 09:11:30+00:00

Document:
§ 8-301 Acknowledgement of paternity.
The mother of a child and a man claiming to be the genetic father of the child may sign an acknowledgment of paternity with intent to establish the man's paternity.
§ 8-302 Execution of acknowledgment of paternity.
(ii) Does not have another acknowledged or adjudicated father.
(5) State that the signatories understand that the acknowledgement is the equivalent of a judicial adjudication of paternity of the child and that a challenge to the acknowledgement is permitted only under limited circumstances and is barred after 2 years.
(3) Falsely denies the existence of a presumed, acknowledged or adjudicated father of the child.
(c) A presumed father may sign or otherwise authenticate an acknowledgment of paternity.
§ 8-303 Denial of paternity.
(ii) Been adjudicated to be the father of the child.
§ 8-304 Rules for acknowledgement and denial of paternity.
(a) An acknowledgment of paternity and a denial of paternity may be contained in a single document or may be signed in counterparts, and may be filed separately or simultaneously. If the acknowledgment and denial are both necessary, neither is valid until both are filed.
(b) An acknowledgment of paternity or a denial of paternity may be signed before the birth of the child.
(c) Subject to subsection (a) of this section, an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity takes effect on the birth of the child or the filing of the document with the Office of Vital Statistics, whichever occurs later.
(d) An acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity signed by a minor is valid if it is otherwise in compliance with this chapter.
§ 8-305 Effect of acknowledgement or denial of paternity.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in §§ 8-307 and 8-308 of this title, a valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the Office of Vital Statistics is equivalent to an adjudication of paternity of a child and confers upon the acknowledged father all of the rights and duties of a parent.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in §§ 8-307 and 8-308 of this title, a valid denial of paternity by a presumed father filed with the Office of Vital Statistics in conjunction with a valid acknowledgment of paternity is equivalent to an adjudication of the nonpaternity of the presumed father and discharges the presumed father from all rights and duties of a parent.
§ 8-306 No filing fee.
The Office of Vital Statistics may not charge for filing an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity.
§ 8-307 Proceeding for rescission.
(2) The date of the first hearing, in a proceeding to which the signatory is a party, before a court to adjudicate an issue relating to the child, including a proceeding that establishes support.
§ 8-308 Challenge after expiration of period for rescission.
(2) Within 2 years after the acknowledgment or denial is filed with the Office of Vital Statistics.
(b) A party challenging an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity has the burden of proof.
§ 8-309 Procedure for rescission or challenge.
(a) Every signatory to an acknowledgment of paternity and any related denial of paternity must be made a party to a proceeding to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or denial.
(b) For the purpose of rescission of, or challenge to, an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity, a signatory submits to personal jurisdiction of this State by signing the acknowledgment or denial, effective upon the filing of the document with the Office of Vital Statistics.
(c) Except for good cause shown, during the pendency of a proceeding to rescind or challenge an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity, the court may not suspend the legal responsibilities of a signatory arising from the acknowledgment, including the duty to pay child support.
(d) A proceeding to rescind or to challenge an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity must be conducted in the same manner as a proceeding to adjudicate parentage under subchapter VI of this chapter.
(e) At the conclusion of a proceeding to rescind or challenge an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity, the court shall order the Office of Vital Statistics to amend the birth record of the child, if appropriate.
A court or administrative agency conducting a judicial or administrative proceeding is not required or permitted to ratify an unchallenged acknowledgment of paternity.
§ 8-311 Full faith and credit.
A court of this State shall give full faith and credit to an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity effective in another state if the acknowledgment or denial has been signed and is otherwise in compliance with the law of the other state.
§ 8-312 Forms for acknowledgement and denial of paternity.
(a) To facilitate compliance with this subchapter, the Division of Child Support Services shall prescribe forms for the acknowledgment of paternity and the denial of paternity.
(b) A valid acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity is not affected by a later modification of the prescribed form.
§ 8-313 Release of information.
The Division of Child Support Services may release information relating to the acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity to a signatory of the acknowledgment or denial and to courts and agencies authorized by other law of this State or another state to receive the information of this or another state.
§ 8-314 Adoption of rules.
The Division of Child Support Services may adopt rules to implement this subchapter.

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