Section 23. (a) If, after adjudication of paternity or voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, the parents of the child intermarry, any order or judgments of the court relative to support, custody, visitation and restraint on personal liberty shall be null and void, except as to any support arrearage which is owed to the commonwealth as reimbursement for public assistance and which accrued before the date that the parents intermarry and the court shall have no continuing jurisdiction over the parties under this chapter.
(b) If, after proceedings are commenced but before an adjudication of paternity is issued, the parents intermarry, the court may adjudicate paternity hereunder but shall have no other jurisdiction over the child or the parents under this chapter.
(c) An action under this chapter may be commenced after the intermarriage of the parents of the child only to determine paternity.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations
Title III - Domestic Relations
Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock
Section 1 - Declaration of Purpose; Definition; Responsibility for Support
Section 6 - Presumption of Paternity; Mandatory Joinder
Section 7 - Representation in Paternity Actions; Appointment of Counsel; Burden of Proof
Section 8 - Judgment of Paternity; Age of Father; Notice
Section 10 - Award of Custody; Criteria
Section 12 - Trial; Exclusion of Public
Section 13 - Inspection of Documents; Copies; Segregation of Records
Section 14 - Complaints Brought Prior to Birth
Section 17 - Genetic Marker Tests; Affidavit; Refusal to Submit to Test; Costs
Section 18 - Judgments or Orders of Support; Enforcement
Section 19 - Judgment or Temporary Order of Support; Enforcement
Section 20 - Modification of Judgments; Jurisdiction
Section 21 - Action to Determine Mother and Child Relationship
Section 22 - Proceedings Barred Under This Chapter