(a)  An individual 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.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-303

  • Alleged genetic parent: means an individual who is alleged to be, or alleges that the individual is, a genetic parent or possible genetic parent of a child whose parentage has not been adjudicated. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102
  • Child: means an individual of any age whose parentage may be determined pursuant to this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102
  • Parent: means an individual who has established parentage that meets the requirements of this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102
  • Parentage: means the legal relationship between a child and a parent as established under this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102
  • Sign: means , with the intent to authenticate or adopt a record, to:

    (i)  Execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or

    (ii)  Attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102

  • Witnessed: means that at least one individual is authorized to sign and has signed a record to verify that the individual personally observed a signatory sign the record. See Rhode Island General Laws 15-8.1-102

(b)  A denial of parentage shall be valid only if:

(1)  An acknowledgment of parentage by another individual has been filed pursuant to this chapter;

(2)  The denial is in a record and is witnessed and signed by at least one other individual; and

(3)  The presumed or alleged genetic parent executing the denial has not previously:

(i)  Acknowledged parentage, unless the previous acknowledgment has been rescinded pursuant to § 15-8.1-307, or successfully challenged the acknowledgment pursuant to § 15-8.1-308; or

(ii)  Been adjudicated to be the parent of the child.

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