Uniform Parentage Act
Delaware · Domestic Relations · §§ 13-8-101 to 13-8-904 · 83 sections
Overview
The act governs the legal relationship between parents and children, providing a framework for establishing maternity and paternity and defining the rights and obligations that follow from that relationship. It sets out court procedures for parentage actions — jurisdiction and venue, appointment of counsel and representation of minors, genetic testing and other evidence, and appeals — alongside presumptions of paternity and rules addressing artificial insemination and children born outside marriage. It also establishes a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity process, including hospital-based programs, standardized forms, and procedures for rescinding or later challenging an acknowledgment, and it provides for support orders and their enforcement, the issuance of new birth certificates, confidentiality of records, and recognition of parentage determinations made elsewhere.
Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.
Sections covered
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-101Short Title
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-102Definitions
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-103Scope of chapter; choice of law
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-104Court of this State
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-105Protection of participants
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-106Determination of maternity
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-201Establishment of parent-child relationship
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-202No discrimination based on marital status
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-203Consequences of establishment of parentage
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-204Presumption of paternity in context of marriage
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-301Acknowledgement of paternity
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-302Execution of acknowledgment of paternity
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-303Denial of paternity
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-304Rules for acknowledgement and denial of paternity
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-305Effect of acknowledgement or denial of paternity
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-306No filing fee
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-307Proceeding for rescission
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-308Challenge after expiration of period for rescission
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-309Procedure for rescission or challenge
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-310Ratification barred
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-311Full faith and credit
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-312Forms for acknowledgement and denial of paternity
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-313Release of information
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-314Adoption of rules
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-401Establishment of registry
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-402Registration for notification
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-403Notice of proceeding
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-404Termination of parental rights; child under 1 year of age
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-405Termination of parental rights; child at least 1 year of age
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-411Required form
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-412Furnishing of information; confidentiality
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-413Rescission of registration
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-414Untimely registration
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-415Fees for registry
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-421Search of appropriate registry
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-422Certificate of search registry
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-423Admissibility of registered information
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-501Scope of article
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-502Order for testing
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-503Requirements for genetic testing
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-504Report of genetic testing
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-505Genetic testing results; rebuttal
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-506Costs of genetic testing
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-507Additional genetic testing
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-508Genetic testing when specimen is not available
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-509Deceased individual
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-510Identical brothers
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-601Proceeding authorized
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-602Standing to maintain proceeding
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-603Parties to proceeding
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-604Personal jurisdiction
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-605Venue
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-606Statute of limitations
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-607Limitation: Child having presumed father
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-608Authority to deny motion for genetic testing
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-609Limitation: Child having acknowledged or adjudicated father
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-610Proceedings in which parentage may be determined
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-611Proceeding before birth
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-612Child as party; representation
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-621Admissibility of results of genetic testing; expenses
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-622Consequences of declining genetic testing
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-623Admission of paternity authorized
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-624Temporary order
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-631Rules for adjudication of paternity
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-632Jury prohibited
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-633Inspection of records
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-634Order on default
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-635Dismissal for want of prosecution
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-636Order adjudicating parentage [Repealed effective Dec. 6, 2026]
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-637Binding effect of determination of parentage [Repealed effective Dec. 6, 2026]
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-638No right to reimbursement
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-639Full faith and credit
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-701Scope of article
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-702Parental status of donor
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-703Paternity of a child of assisted reproduction
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-704Consent to assisted reproduction
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-705Limitation on husband’s dispute of paternity
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-706Effect of dissolution of marriage or withdrawal of consent
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-707Parental status of deceased individual
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-901Uniformity of application and construction
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-902Severability clause
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-903Effective date; effect on existing parentage
- Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 8-904Transitional provision
Enacted in other states
Alabama, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas
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