Montana Code 40-5-237. District court paternity proceedings — objection to tests — additional tests — expert’s report — admissibility of evidence
40-5-237. District court paternity proceedings — objection to tests — additional tests — expert’s report — admissibility of evidence. (1) In a matter referred to the district court, if an alleged father objects to the procedures for or the results of a paternity genetic test, the alleged father shall file a written objection with the court within 20 days after service of the notice required by 40-5-236(3). The court shall order an additional paternity genetic test upon the alleged father’s advance payment for additional testing if a written objection is timely filed or at the request of the department. The alleged father’s advance payment must be returned to the alleged father if the test does not produce evidence of the alleged father’s paternity. An additional test must be performed by the same or another expert who is qualified in paternity genetic testing. Failure of the alleged father to make a timely challenge is considered a waiver of any defense to the test results or test procedures, including the chain of custody.
Terms Used In Montana Code 40-5-237
- Alleged father: means a person who is alleged to have engaged in sexual intercourse with a child's mother during a possible time of conception of the child or a person who is presumed to be a child's father under the provisions of 40-6-105. See Montana Code 40-5-201
- Child: means :
(i)a person under 18 years of age who is not otherwise emancipated, self-supporting, married, or a member of the armed forces of the United States;
(ii)a person under 19 years of age and still in high school;
(iii)a person who is mentally or physically incapacitated if the incapacity began prior to the person's 18th birthday; or
(iv)in a IV-D case, a person for whom:
(A)support rights are assigned under 53-2-613;
(B)a public assistance payment has been made;
(C)the department is providing support enforcement services under 40-5-203; or
(D)the department has received a referral for IV-D services from an agency of another state or an Indian tribe under the provisions of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, or Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. See Montana Code 40-5-201
- Department: means the department of public health and human services. See Montana Code 40-5-201
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Paternity genetic test: means a test that demonstrates through examination of genetic markers either that an alleged father is not the natural father of a child or that there is a probability that an alleged father is the natural father of a child. See Montana Code 40-5-201
- Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(2)If an objection to the paternity genetic test is not timely filed, the paternity genetic test expert’s completed and certified report of the results and conclusions of a paternity genetic test is admissible as evidence without additional foundation testimony or other proof of authenticity and accuracy if the laboratory in which the expert performed the test is accredited for parentage testing by the American association of blood banks. Accreditation may be established by verified statement or reference to published sources. This subsection does not limit the right of a party to contest the identity of persons submitting to testing.
(3)In any hearing before the court or at trial, testimony relating to sexual intercourse of the mother with any person who has been excluded from consideration as a possible father of the child involved by the results of a paternity genetic test is inadmissible in evidence.
(4)When a paternity genetic test excludes an alleged father from possible paternity, the test is conclusive evidence of nonpaternity of the alleged father for all purposes in the district court.