reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
15 V.S.A. § 203
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 2 - Establishment of Parentage|§ 203. Consequences of establishment of parentage

§ 203. Consequences of establishment of parentage|Unless parentage has been terminated by a court order or an exception has been stated explicitly in this title, parentage established under this title applies for all purposes, including the rights and duties of parentage under the law. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 204
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 2 - Establishment of Parentage|§ 204. Determination of maternity and paternity

§ 204. Determination of maternity and paternity|Provisions of this title relating to determination of paternity may apply to determination of maternity as needed to determine parentage consistent with this title. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 205
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 2 - Establishment of Parentage|§ 205. No limitation on child

§ 205. No limitation on child|Nothing in this chapter limits the right of a child to bring an action to adjudicate parentage. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 206
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 2 - Establishment of Parentage|§ 206. Adjudicating competing claims of parentage

§ 206. Adjudicating competing claims of parentage|(a) Competing claims of parentage. Except as otherwise provided in section 616 of this title, in a proceeding to adjudicate competing claims of parentage or challenges to a child's parentage by two or more persons, the court shall adjudicate parentage in the best interests of the child, based on the following factors:  (1) the age of the child; (2) the length of time during which each person assumed the role of parent of the child; (3) the nature of the relationship between the child and each person; (4) the harm to the child if the relationship between the child and each person is not recognized; (5) the basis for each person's claim to parentage of the child; and (6) other equitable factors arising from the disruption of the relationship between the child and each person or the likelihood of other harm to the child.   (b) Preservation of parent-child relationship. Consistent with the establishment of parentage under this chapter, a court may determine that a child has more than two parents if the court finds that it is in the best interests of the child to do so. A finding of best interests of the child under this subsection does not require a finding of unfitness of any parent or person seeking an adjudication of parentage. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 301
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 301. Acknowledgment of parentage

§ 301. Acknowledgment of parentage|(a) The following persons may sign an acknowledgment of parentage to establish parentage of a child:  (1) a person who gave birth to the child; (2) a person who is the alleged genetic parent of the child; (3) a person who is an intended parent to the child pursuant to chapter 7 or 8 of this title; and (4) a presumed parent pursuant to chapter 4 of this title.   (b) The acknowledgment shall be signed by both the person who gave birth to the child and by the person seeking to establish a parent-child relationship and shall be witnessed and signed by at least one other person. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 302
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 302. Acknowledgment of parentage void

§ 302. Acknowledgment of parentage void|An acknowledgment of parentage shall be void if, at the time of signing:  (1) a person other than the person seeking to establish parentage is a presumed parent, unless a denial of parentage in a signed record has been filed with the Department of Health; or (2) a person, other than the person who gave birth, is an acknowledged, admitted, or adjudicated parent, or an intended parent under chapter 7 or 8 of this title. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 303
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 303. Denial of parentage

§ 303. Denial of parentage|A person presumed to be a parent or an alleged genetic parent may sign a denial of parentage only in the limited circumstances set forth in this section. A denial of parentage shall be valid only if:  (1) an acknowledgment of parentage by another person has been filed pursuant to this chapter; (2) the denial is in a record and is witnessed and signed by at least one other person; and (3) the person executing the denial has not previously:  (A) acknowledged parentage, unless the previous acknowledgment has been rescinded pursuant to section 307 of this title or successfully challenged the acknowledgment pursuant to section 308 of this title; or (B) been adjudicated to be the parent of the child. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 304
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 304. Conditions for acknowledgment or denial of parentage

§ 304. Conditions for acknowledgment or denial of parentage|(a) Completed forms for acknowledgment of parentage and denial of parentage shall be filed with the Department of Health.(b) An acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage may be signed before or after the birth of a child.(c) An acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage takes effect on the date of the birth of the child or the filing of the document with the Department of Health, whichever occurs later.(d) An acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage signed by a minor shall be valid provided it is otherwise in compliance with this title. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 305
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 305. Equivalent to adjudication; no ratification required

§ 305. Equivalent to adjudication; no ratification required|(a) Acknowledgment. Except as otherwise provided in sections 307 and 308 of this title, a valid acknowledgment of parentage under section 301 of this title filed with the Department of Health is equivalent to an adjudication of parentage of a child and confers upon the acknowledged parent all of the rights and duties of a parent.(b) Ratification. Judicial or administrative ratification is neither permitted nor required for an unrescinded or unchallenged acknowledgment of parentage.(c) Denial. Except as otherwise provided in sections 307 and 308 of this title, a valid denial of parentage under section 303 of this title filed with the Department of Health in conjunction with a valid acknowledgment of parentage under section 301 of this title is equivalent to an adjudication of the nonparentage of the presumed parent or alleged genetic parent and discharges the presumed parent or alleged genetic parent from all rights and duties of a parent.(d) Rescission or challenge. A signatory of an acknowledgment of parentage may rescind or challenge the acknowledgment in accordance with sections 307-309 of this title. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 306
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 306. No filing fee

§ 306. No filing fee|The Department of Health shall not charge a fee for filing an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 307
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 307. Timing of rescission

§ 307. Timing of rescission|(a) A person may rescind an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage under this chapter by any of the following methods:  (1) Filing a rescission with the Department of Health within 60 days after the effective date of the acknowledgment or denial. The signing of the rescission shall be witnessed and signed by at least one other person. (2) Commencing a court proceeding within 60 days after the effective date of the acknowledgment or denial, as provided in section 304 of this title. (3) Challenging the acknowledgment or denial within the earlier of 60 days after the effect date of the acknowledgment or denial or within 60 days after the date of the first court hearing in a proceeding in which the signatory is a party to adjudicate an issue relating to the child, including a proceeding seeking child support.   (b) If an acknowledgment or denial of parentage is rescinded under this section, any associated acknowledgment or denial of parentage becomes invalid, and the Department of Health shall notify the person who gave birth to the child and any person who signed an acknowledgment or denial of parentage of the child that the acknowledgment or denial of parentage has been rescinded. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 24, § 1, eff. May 16, 2019.)
15 V.S.A. § 308
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 308. Challenge to acknowledgment after expiration of period for rescission

§ 308. Challenge to acknowledgment after expiration of period for rescission|(a) Challenge by signatory. After the period for rescission under section 307 of this title has expired, a signatory of an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage may commence a proceeding to challenge the acknowledgment or denial only:  (1) on the basis of fraud, duress, coercion, threat of harm, or material mistake of fact; and (2) within two years after the acknowledgment or denial is effective in accordance with section 304 of this title.   (b) Challenge by person not a signatory. If an acknowledgment of parentage has been made in accordance with this chapter, a person who is neither the child nor a signatory to the acknowledgment who seeks to challenge the validity of the acknowledgment and adjudicate parentage shall commence a proceeding within two years after the effective date of the acknowledgment unless the person did not know and could not reasonably have known of the person's potential parentage due to a material misrepresentation or concealment, in which case the proceeding shall be commenced within two years after the discovery of the person's potential parentage.(c) Burden of proof. A person challenging an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage pursuant to this section has the burden of proof by clear and convincing evidence.(d) Consolidation. A court proceeding in which the validity of an acknowledgment of parentage is challenged shall be consolidated with any other pending court actions regarding the child. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 309
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 309. Procedure for rescission or challenge

§ 309. Procedure for rescission or challenge|(a) Every signatory party. Every signatory to an acknowledgment of parentage and any related denial of parentage shall be made a party to a proceeding under section 307 or 308 of this title to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or denial.(b) Submission to personal jurisdiction. For the purpose of rescission of or challenge to an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage, a signatory submits to personal jurisdiction of this State by signing the acknowledgment or denial, effective upon the filing of the document with the Department of Health pursuant to section 304 of this title.(c) Suspension of legal responsibilities. Except for good cause shown, during the pendency of a proceeding to rescind or challenge an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage, the court shall not suspend the legal responsibilities of a signatory arising from the acknowledgment, including the duty to pay child support.(d) Proceeding to rescind or challenge. A proceeding to rescind or challenge an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage shall be conducted as a proceeding to adjudicate parentage pursuant to chapter 1 of this title.(e) Amendment to birth record. At the conclusion of a proceeding to rescind or challenge an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage, the court shall order the Department of Health to amend the birth record of the child, if appropriate. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 310
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 310. Forms for voluntary acknowledgment and denial of parentage

§ 310. Forms for voluntary acknowledgment and denial of parentage|(a) The Department of Health shall develop a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage form and a denial of parentage form for execution of parentage under this chapter.(b) The acknowledgment of parentage form shall provide notice of the alternatives to, the legal consequences of, and the rights and responsibilities that arise from signing the acknowledgment and shall state that:  (1) there is no other presumed parent of the child or, if there is another presumed parent, shall state that parent's full name; (2) there is no other acknowledged parent, adjudicated parent, or person who is an intended parent under chapter 7 or 8 of this title other than the person who gave birth to the child; and (3) the signatories understand that the acknowledgment is the equivalent of a court determination of parentage of the child and that a challenge to the acknowledgment is permitted only under limited circumstances.   (c) A valid acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage is not affected by a later modification of the prescribed form. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 24, § 3, eff. May 16, 2019.)
15 V.S.A. § 311
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 311. Release of information

§ 311. Release of information|(a) The Department of Health shall provide the completed following forms only to the parties who signed the document, the Office of Child Support, and the Family Services Division of the Department of Children and Families:  (1) acknowledgment of parentage, (2) voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, (3) denial of parentage, and (4) rescission of these documents.   (b) The Health Department shall release the forms to the Office of Child Support only upon request and the Office of Child Support may use the forms for the sole purpose of initiating a parentage or support proceeding on behalf of a dependent child as defined in 33 V.S.A. § 3901.(c) The Health Department shall release the forms to the Family Services Division of the Department for Children and Families only upon request and the Family Services Division may use the forms for the sole purpose of addressing parentage or support proceedings relating to a child who is in the care of the Department for Children and Families. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 24, § 2, eff. May 16, 2019.)
15 V.S.A. § 312
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 3 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage|§ 312. Adoption of rules

§ 312. Adoption of rules|The Department of Health may adopt rules to implement this chapter. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 401
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 4 - Presumed Parentage|§ 401. Presumption of parentage

§ 401. Presumption of parentage|(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person is presumed to be a parent of a child if:  (1) the person and the person who gave birth to the child are married to each other and the child is born during the marriage; or (2) the person and the person who gave birth to the child were married to each other and the child is born not later than 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, divorce, or dissolution; or (3) the person and the person who gave birth to the child married each other after the birth of the child and the person at any time asserted parentage of the child and the person agreed to be and is named as a parent of the child on the birth certificate of the child; or (4) the person resided in the same household with the child for the first two years of the life of the child, including periods of temporary absence, and the person and another parent of the child openly held out the child as the person's child.   (b) A presumption of parentage shall be rebuttable and may be overcome and competing claims to parentage resolved only by court order or a valid denial of parentage pursuant to chapter 3 of this title. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 402
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 4 - Presumed Parentage|§ 402. Challenge to presumed parent

§ 402. Challenge to presumed parent|(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a proceeding to challenge the parentage of a person whose parentage is presumed under section 401 of this title shall be commenced within two years after the birth of the child.(b) A proceeding to challenge the parentage of a person whose parentage is presumed under section 401 of this title may be commenced two years or more after the birth of the child in the following circumstances:  (1) A presumed parent who is not the genetic parent of a child and who could not reasonably have known about the birth of the child may commence a proceeding under this section within two years after learning of the child's birth. (2) An alleged genetic parent who did not know of the potential genetic parentage of a child and who could not reasonably have known on account of material misrepresentation or concealment may commence a proceeding under this section within two years after discovering the potential genetic parentage. If the person is adjudicated to be the genetic parent of the child, the court shall not disestablish a presumed parent. (3) Regarding a presumption under subdivision 401(a)(4) of this title, another parent of the child may challenge a presumption of parentage if that parent openly held out the child as the presumptive parent's child due to duress, coercion, or threat of harm. Evidence of duress, coercion, or threat of harm may include whether within the prior ten years, the person presumed to be a parent pursuant to subdivision 401(a)(4) of this title has been convicted of domestic assault, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation of the child or another parent of the child, was subject to a final abuse protection order pursuant to 15 V.S.A. chapter 21 because the person was found to have committed abuse against the child or another parent of the child, or was substantiated for abuse against the child or another parent of the child pursuant to 33 V.S.A. chapter 49 or 33 V.S.A. chapter 69. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 14, § 46, eff. April 30, 2019.)
15 V.S.A. § 403
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 4 - Presumed Parentage|§ 403. Multiple presumptions

§ 403. Multiple presumptions|If two or more conflicting presumptions arise under this chapter, the court shall adjudicate parentage pursuant to section 206 of this title. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 501
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 5 - De Facto Parentage|§ 501. Standard; adjudication

§ 501. Standard; adjudication|(a)(1) In a proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a person who claims to be a de facto parent of the child, if there is only one other person who is a parent or has a claim to parentage of the child, the court shall adjudicate the person who claims to be a de facto parent to be a parent of the child if the person demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that:   (A) the person resided with the child as a regular member of the child's household for a significant period of time; (B) the person engaged in consistent caretaking of the child; (C) the person undertook full and permanent responsibilities of a parent of the child without expectation of financial compensation; (D) the person held out the child as the person's child; (E) the person established a bonded and dependent relationship with the child that is parental in nature; (F) the person and another parent of the child fostered or supported the bonded and dependent relationship required under subdivision (E) of this subdivision (1); and (G) continuing the relationship between the person and the child is in the best interests of the child.  (2) A parent of the child may use evidence of duress, coercion, or threat of harm to contest an allegation that the parent fostered or supported a bonded and dependent relationship as provided in subdivision (1)(F) of this subsection. Such evidence may include whether within the prior ten years, the person seeking to be adjudicated a de facto parent has been convicted of domestic assault, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation of the child or another parent of the child, was subject to a final abuse protection order pursuant to 15 V.S.A. chapter 21 because the person was found to have committed abuse against the child or another parent of the child, or was substantiated for abuse against the child or another parent of the child pursuant to 33 V.S.A. chapter 49 or 33 V.S.A. chapter 69.   (b) In a proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a person who claims to be a de facto parent of the child, if there is more than one other person who is a parent or has a claim to parentage of the child and the court determines that the requirements of subsection (a) of this section are met by clear and convincing evidence, the court shall adjudicate parentage under section 206 of this title, subject to other applicable limitations in this title.(c) The adjudication of a person as a de facto parent under this chapter does not disestablish the parentage of any other parent. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 502
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 5 - De Facto Parentage|§ 502. Standing; petition

§ 502. Standing; petition|(a) A person seeking to be adjudicated a de facto parent of a child shall file a petition with the Family Division of the Superior Court before the child reaches 18 years of age. Both the person seeking to be adjudicated a de facto parent and the child must be alive at the time of the filing. The petition shall include a verified affidavit alleging facts to support the existence of a de facto parent relationship with the child. The petition and affidavit shall be served on all parents and legal guardians of the child and any other party to the proceeding.(b) An adverse party, parent, or legal guardian may file a pleading and verified affidavit in response to the petition that shall be served on all parties to the proceeding.(c) The court shall determine on the basis of the pleadings and affidavits whether the person seeking to be adjudicated a de facto parent has presented prima facie evidence of the criteria for de facto parentage as provided in subsection 501(a) of this title and, therefore, has standing to proceed with a parentage action. The court, in its sole discretion, may hold a hearing to determine disputed facts that are necessary and material to the issue of standing.(d) The court may enter an interim order concerning contact between the child and a person with standing seeking adjudication under this chapter as a de facto parent of the child. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
15 V.S.A. § 601
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 15C - Parentage Proceedings|Chapter 6 - Genetic Parentage|§ 601. Scope

§ 601. Scope|This chapter governs procedures and requirements of genetic testing and genetic testing results of a person to determine parentage and adjudication of parentage based on genetic testing, whether the person voluntarily submits to testing or is tested pursuant to an order of the court. Genetic testing shall not be used to challenge the parentage of a person who is a parent by operation of law under chapter 7 or 8 of this title or to establish the parentage of a person who is a donor. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)