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Disestablishment of Paternity & Support For Child Support Attorneys

Disestablishment of Paternity & Support For Child Support Attorneys

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Disestablishment of

Paternity & Support

For Child Support Attorneys

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h)

Motion Filed

Properly served? Notice of Hearing - 5 days notice?

No? Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Motion Filed

Filed in underlying paternity case?

No? Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Whose Order

North Carolina order?

Jurisdiction?

No? Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Pleadings

Fraud Duress Mutual Mistake Excusable Neglect

No? Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Who Is Movant

A party to existing action?

Does he have standing?

No? Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Motion Is Sufficient

Prepare for hearing

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Review complete file

Confer with Child Support case manager

Meet with custodian

Is motion to dismiss appropriate?

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Consider Motion To Dismiss

If not alleged with particularity

If previous paternity testing

If movant knew he was not father

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Prior Paternity Test

Court ordered?

Chain of Custody verified?

No? Move to strike

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Burden of Proof

Belongs to Movant

Need Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law

Appeal - request stay

Court incorrect – petition for writ

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Paternity Test Results

97 % & higher – rebuttable presumption of

paternity

85 % – 97% - same weight as other evidence

Less than 85% - rebuttable presumption of non-paternity

Motions Filed – GS 49-14(h) / 110-132

Court Determination

Paternity test - not father

Prior order - fraud, duress, mutual mistake or

excusable neglect

Court’s discretion to set aside paternity

Motion Filed – GS 50-13.13

New Civil Action

Proper Summons & Complaint? Service of Process? Timely Service? Endorsement?

No? Move to Dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Plaintiff - Father Required to Support

Chapter 49 (Legitimation) Chapter 50 (Custody, support) Chapter 52C (Interstate) Chapter 110 (Title IV-D) Chapter 52-10.1 (Separation agreement)

No? Move to Dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Whose Order

North Carolina order?

Jurisdiction?

No? Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

When Did He Know

Knew or should have known

Longer than 1 year?

Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Complaint Verified

No?

Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

How Does He Know

Are allegations clearly stated?

No? Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Allegations

Did not acknowledge paternity?

Acknowledged not knowing his is not father

No? Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Adoption / Legitimation

Has he adopted child?

Has he legitimated child?

Yes? Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Legitimation

By marriage?

When mother married to another man?

By artificial insemination

Yes? Move to dismiss

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Plaintiff in Military

Default judgment?

Date of separation?

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Guardian Ad Litem

On behalf of child

At discretion of Court

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Paternity Testing

Court order

GS 8-50.1 governs admissibility, weight

Failure to comply – contempt, sanction

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Suspension of Support Obligation

Suspended in IV-D case

Not suspended if support paid to

mother

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Support Obligation Termination

If paternity test indicates non-paternity

If plaintiff did not acknowledge paternity

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Support Obligation Termination

If plaintiff acknowledged paternity not knowing

he was not father

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Plaintiff Does Not Meet Requirements

Court must: Deny motionBad faith – award fees to prevailing party

Support order remains in effect

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Plaintiff Meets Requirements

Court must order: Ongoing support terminated Arrearage remains due and owing Clerk of court to notify State Registrar

Motions Filed – GS 50-13.13

Plaintiff Meets Requirements

Court may:

Tax paternity test costs to mother

? ?

Lisa K. Bradley

Assistant Attorney GeneralNC Department of Justice

[email protected] 919.716.6850