(a) Determination.--Where the paternity of a child born out of wedlock is disputed, the determination of paternity shall be made by the court in a civil action without a jury. A putative father may not be prohibited from initiating a civil action to establish paternity. The burden of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence. Bills for pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal care related to the pregnancy and genetic testing are admissible as evidence without requiring third-party foundation testimony and shall constitute prima facie evidence of amounts incurred for such services or for testing on behalf of the child. If there is clear and convincing evidence of paternity on the basis of genetic tests or other evidence, the court shall upon motion of a party issue a temporary order of support pending the judicial resolution of a dispute regarding paternity. The Supreme Court shall provide by general rule for entry of a default order establishing paternity upon a showing of service of process on the defendant and a subsequent failure to appear for scheduled genetic testing.
(b) Limitation of actions.--
(1) An action or proceeding under this chapter to establish the paternity of a child born out of wedlock must be commenced within 18 years of the date of birth of the child.
(2) As of August 16, 1984, the requirement of paragraph (b)(1) shall also apply to any child for whom paternity has not yet been established and any child for whom a paternity action was brought but dismissed because of a prior statute of limitations of less than 18 years.
(c) Genetic tests.--
(1) Upon the request of any party to an action to establish paternity, supported by a sworn statement from the party, the court or domestic relations section shall require the child and the parties to submit to genetic tests. The domestic relations section shall obtain an additional genetic test upon the request and advance payment by any party who contests the initial test.
(2) Genetic test results indicating a 99% or greater probability that the alleged father is the father of the child shall create a presumption of paternity which may be rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence that the results of the genetic tests are not reliable in that particular case.
(3) To ensure the integrity of the specimen and that the proper chain of custody has been maintained, the genetic tests of the biological mother, the child or children in question and the alleged father should be conducted by an established genetic-testing laboratory in the course of its regularly conducted business activity, and certified records should be issued. The certified records shall be admissible into evidence without further foundation, authentication or proof of accuracy if no objection is made within ten days prior to trial. The laboratory must be certified by either the American Association of Blood Banks or the American Association for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics.
(4) If the court or domestic relations section orders genetic testing, the domestic relations section shall pay the cost of the test, subject to recoupment from the alleged father if paternity is established.
(5) A determination of paternity made by another state, whether through judicial proceedings, administrative proceedings or by acknowledgment of paternity, shall be given full faith and credit in the courts of this Commonwealth.
(6) A determination of nonpaternity made by another state with respect to a public assistance recipient shall not be binding upon the Department of Public Welfare unless the defendant shows that the department had actual notice of the proceedings, including the date and time of any trial, and a fair opportunity to participate in all material proceedings through counsel of its own choice.
(Dec. 20, 1989, P.L.654, No.81, eff. imd.; Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1286, No.150, eff. imd.; Dec. 16, 1997, P.L.549, No.58, eff. Jan. 1, 1998)
1997 Amendment. Act 58 amended subsecs. (a) and (c)(1), (4) and (6). Act 58 of 1997 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 1910.50(3), as amended May 31, 2000, insofar as it is inconsistent with Rule No. 1910.20 relating to the availability of remedies for collection of past due and overdue support.
1994 Amendment. Act 150 amended subsec. (c). Section 5 of Act 150 provided that the amendment of section 4343 shall apply to all actions pending on the effective date of Act 150.
References in Text. The Department of Public Welfare, referred to in this section, was redesignated as the Department of Human Services by Act 132 of 2014.
Cross References. Section 4343 is referred to in section 4305 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 43 - Support Matters Generally
Section 4301 - Scope of chapter
Section 4303 - Information to consumer reporting agency
Section 4304 - Cooperation of Commonwealth agencies (Repealed)
Section 4304.1 - Cooperation of government and nongovernment agencies
Section 4305 - General administration of support matters
Section 4306 - Duties of Title IV-D attorney
Section 4307 - State income tax intercept
Section 4308 - Lottery winnings intercept
Section 4308.1 - Collection of overdue support from monetary awards
Section 4309 - Publication of delinquent support obligors
Section 4321 - Liability for support
Section 4322 - Support guideline
Section 4323 - Support of emancipated child
Section 4324 - Inclusion of spousal medical support
Section 4325 - Payment of order of support
Section 4326 - Mandatory inclusion of child medical support
Section 4327 - Postsecondary educational costs
Section 4341 - Commencement of support actions or proceedings
Section 4342 - Expedited procedure
Section 4344 - Contempt for failure of obligor to appear
Section 4345 - Contempt for noncompliance with support order
Section 4346 - Contempt for noncompliance with visitation or partial custody order (Repealed)
Section 4347 - Security for attendance or performance
Section 4348 - Attachment of income
Section 4349 - Consolidation of proceedings
Section 4350 - Effect of appeal
Section 4352 - Continuing jurisdiction over support orders
Section 4354 - Willful failure to pay support order
Section 4355 - Denial or suspension of licenses
Section 4361 - Execution of support order against entireties property
Section 4362 - Plaintiff's share of proceeds of sale
Section 4363 - Trustee to distribute proceeds of sale
Section 4364 - Credit to plaintiff who purchases property
Section 4365 - Rights of divorced person in entireties property sold for support
Section 4366 - Other enforcement remedies preserved
Section 4372 - Establishment of Title IV-D program
Section 4373 - Administration of Title IV-D program
Section 4374 - State disbursement unit
Section 4375 - Access to records
Section 4376 - Central registry
Section 4377 - Power to expedite support cases
Section 4378 - Assistance recipients to seek support
Section 4379 - Cooperation required
Section 4380 - Enforcement of cooperation requirements
Section 4381 - Garnishment of wages of Commonwealth employees
Section 4392 - Employer reporting
Section 4393 - Use of information