Ohio Code 3111.04 – Standing to bring paternity action
(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, an action to determine the existence or nonexistence of the father and child relationship may be brought by the child or the child’s personal representative, the child’s caretaker, the child’s mother or her personal representative, a man alleged or alleging himself to be the child’s father, the child support enforcement agency of the county in which the child resides if the child’s mother, father, or alleged father is a recipient of public assistance or of services under Title IV-D of the “Social Security Act,” 88 Stat. 2351 (1975), 42 U.S.C.A. 651, as amended, or the alleged father’s personal representative.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 3111.04
- Another: when used to designate the owner of property which is the subject of an offense, includes not only natural persons but also every other owner of property. See Ohio Code 1.02
- Child: includes child by adoption. See Ohio Code 1.59
- parent and child relationship: includes the mother and child relationship and the father and child relationship. See Ohio Code 3111.01
- Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
- state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
(2) A man alleged or alleging himself to be the child’s father is not eligible to file an action under division (A)(1) of this section if the man was convicted of or pleaded guilty to rape or sexual battery, the victim of the rape or sexual battery was the child’s mother, and the child was conceived as a result of the rape or sexual battery.
(B) An agreement does not bar an action under this section.
(C) If an action under this section is brought before the birth of the child and if the action is contested, all proceedings, except service of process and the taking of depositions to perpetuate testimony, may be stayed until after the birth.
(D) A recipient of public assistance or of services under Title IV-D of the “Social Security Act,” 88 Stat. 2351 (1975), 42 U.S.C.A. 651, as amended, shall cooperate with the child support enforcement agency of the county in which a child resides to obtain an administrative determination pursuant to sections 3111.38 to 3111.54 of the Revised Code, or, if necessary, a court determination pursuant to sections 3111.01 to 3111.18 of the Revised Code, of the existence or nonexistence of a parent and child relationship between the father and the child. If the recipient fails to cooperate, the agency may commence an action to determine the existence or nonexistence of a parent and child relationship between the father and the child pursuant to sections 3111.01 to 3111.18 of the Revised Code.
(E) As used in this section:
(1) “Public assistance” means both of the following:
(a) Medicaid;
(b) Ohio works first under Chapter 5107 of the Revised Code.
(2) “Rape” means a violation of section 2907.02 of the Revised Code or similar law of another state.
(3) “Sexual battery” means a violation of section 2907.03 of the Revised Code or similar law of another state.
Last updated April 3, 2024 at 4:05 AM