Vermont Statutes Title 15 Sec. 402
Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 15 Sec. 402
- Alleged genetic parent: means a person who is alleged to be, or alleges that the person is, a genetic parent or possible genetic parent of a child whose parentage has not been adjudicated. See
- Birth: includes stillbirth. See
- Child: means a person of any age whose parentage may be determined under this title. See
- Domestic assault: shall include any offense as set forth in 13 Vt. See
- 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.
- following: when used by way of reference to a section of the law shall mean the next preceding or following section. See
- Parent: means a person who has established parentage that meets the requirements of this title. See
- Parentage: means the legal relationship between a child and a parent as established under this title. See
- Person: shall include any natural person, corporation, municipality, the State of Vermont or any department, agency, or subdivision of the State, and any partnership, unincorporated association, or other legal entity. See
- Presumed parent: means a person who is recognized as the parent of a child under section 401 of this title. See
- Sexual assault: shall include sexual assault as provided in 13 V. See
- Sexual exploitation: shall include sexual exploitation of an inmate as provided in 13 V. See
§ 402. Challenge to presumed parent
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a proceeding to challenge the parentage of a person whose parentage is presumed under section 401 of this title shall be commenced within two years after the birth of the child.
(b) A proceeding to challenge the parentage of a person whose parentage is presumed under section 401 of this title may be commenced two years or more after the birth of the child in the following circumstances:
(1) A presumed parent who is not the genetic parent of a child and who could not reasonably have known about the birth of the child may commence a proceeding under this section within two years after learning of the child’s birth.
(2) An alleged genetic parent who did not know of the potential genetic parentage of a child and who could not reasonably have known on account of material misrepresentation or concealment may commence a proceeding under this section within two years after discovering the potential genetic parentage. If the person is adjudicated to be the genetic parent of the child, the court shall not disestablish a presumed parent.
(3) Regarding a presumption under subdivision 401(a)(4) of this title, another parent of the child may challenge a presumption of parentage if that parent openly held out the child as the presumptive parent’s child due to duress, coercion, or threat of harm. Evidence of duress, coercion, or threat of harm may include whether within the prior ten years, the person presumed to be a parent pursuant to subdivision 401(a)(4) of this title has been convicted of domestic assault, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation of the child or another parent of the child, was subject to a final abuse protection order pursuant to 15 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 21 because the person was found to have committed abuse against the child or another parent of the child, or was substantiated for abuse against the child or another parent of the child pursuant to 33 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 49 or 33 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 69. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2019, No. 14, § 46, eff. April 30, 2019.)