Title 15
Domestic Relations

Chapter 8.1
Uniform Parentage Act

Article 1
Definitions, Scope and General Provisions

R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-8.1-104



§ 15-8.1-104.  Parentage proceeding.


(a) A proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child shall be maintained in accordance with this chapter and with the family court rules of domestic relations procedure and/or the rules of juvenile proceedings, except that proceedings for orders of parentage, pursuant to § 15-8.1-804, may be maintained in accordance with the superior court rules of civil procedure.

(b) If a complaint is brought by the office of child support services, the complaint shall be accompanied by an affidavit of the parent whose rights have been assigned. In cases where the assignor is not a genetic parent or is a genetic parent who refuses to provide an affidavit, the affidavit may be submitted by the office of child support services, but the affidavit alone shall not support a default judgment on the issue of parentage.

(c) Original actions to adjudicate parentage may be commenced in the family court, except that proceedings for orders of parentage under § 15-8.1-804, may be commenced in either the family court or the superior court.

(d) There shall be no right to a jury trial in an action to determine parentage.

(e) An individual who is a party to a parentage action shall disclose that individual's social security number to the court. The social security number of an individual subject to a parentage adjudication shall be placed in the court records relating to the adjudication. The court shall disclose an individual's social security number to the office of child support.

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