2021 Missouri Revised Statutes
Title XXX - Domestic Relations
Chapter 454 - Enforcement of Support Law
Section 454.485 - Paternity order, establishing — entered when — genetic testing required when — docketing of order, result — copies to be sent to bureau of vital records of department of health and senior services — defense of nonpaternity — decision, how rendered.

Effective - 01 Jul 1997

454.485. Paternity order, establishing — entered when — genetic testing required when — docketing of order, result — copies to be sent to bureau of vital records of department of health and senior services — defense of nonpaternity — decision, how rendered. — 1. The director may enter an order establishing paternity of a child in the course of a support proceeding pursuant to sections 454.460 to 454.510 when the man is presumed to be the child's father pursuant to section 210.822 or when both parents sign sworn statements that the paternity of the dependent child for whom support is sought has not been legally established and that the male parent is the father of the child. For purposes of paternity establishment pursuant to this section, a sworn statement shall include a statement verified by a person authorized to take oaths pursuant to section 207.020 or section 454.465.

2. The director may enter an order requiring genetic testing in the course of an action to establish paternity pursuant to sections 454.460 to 454.510 or upon the request of a IV-D agency of another state that is seeking to establish paternity. The order may require that the child, the mother or an alleged father submit to tests performed by an expert designated by the division to be qualified as an examiner of genetic markers present on blood cells and components, or other tissue or fluid. Such an examiner shall be qualified to be an expert as defined in section 210.834, and shall be considered an expert pursuant to subdivision (5) of subsection 1 of section 210.822. In addition to any other provisions for enforcement of the order, the order may be filed pursuant to section 454.490 and refusal to comply with the order shall constitute civil contempt.

3. The docketing, pursuant to section 454.490, of an order establishing paternity pursuant to this section shall establish legal paternity for all purposes. The division shall provide an additional copy of each administrative order to be docketed and the circuit clerk shall, upon docketing, forward such copy to the bureau of vital records of the department of health and senior services. The bureau of vital records shall enter the name of the father on the birth records pursuant to sections 193.085 and 193.215 and shall record the Social Security account numbers of both parents, pursuant to section 193.075.

4. In no event shall a hearing official conducting a hearing pursuant to sections 454.460 to 454.510 be authorized to enter a finding of nonpaternity in the case of a man presumed to be the biological father of any child pursuant to Missouri law, or of the father of any child born out of wedlock who has acknowledged paternity in writing under oath or has acknowledged that he is responsible for the support, maintenance and education of such child, unless such presumption has been overruled, or such acknowledgment has been ruled void by a court of competent jurisdiction.

5. In an action contesting paternity, the director shall require genetic testing at the request of a party to such action if such request is supported by a sworn statement of such party which:

(1) Alleges paternity and sets forth facts establishing a reasonable possibility of sexual contact between the parties; or

(2) Denies paternity and sets forth facts establishing a reasonable possibility that there was no sexual contact between the parties.

6. The division shall pay the cost of any genetic test ordered pursuant to this section. If the paternity of the alleged father is established, such father may be ordered to pay the cost of such tests. If a genetic test is contested, the director shall not order additional genetic testing when requested by the person contesting the test unless such person pays in advance for such tests.

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(L. 1982 S.B. 468 § 17, A.L. 1984 H.B. 1275, A.L. 1986 H.B. 1479, A.L. 1990 S.B. 834, A.L. 1993 S.B. 253, A.L. 1994 H.B. 1491 & 1134 merged with S.B. 508, A.L. 1997 S.B. 361)

Effective 7-01-97