California 2017 2017-2018 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB1352 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/17/2017

                    CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1352Introduced by Assembly Member FriedmanFebruary 17, 2017 An act to amend Section 7635 of the Family Code, relating to parentage. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1352, as introduced, Friedman. Father and child relationship: notice to a presumed father.The Uniform Parentage Act defines the parent and child relationship as the legal relationship existing between a child and the childs parents, including the mother and child relationship and the father and child relationship. The act governs actions to establish the existence or nonexistence of the parent and child relationship and requires notice of an action to be served, among others, on a natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent, and each man alleged to be a natural father.This bill would authorize an action to establish the existence or nonexistence of the parent and child relationship without notice and an opportunity to be heard given to a presumed father if it is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father and the presumed father was so designated because of a reason other than he receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: NO  Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 7635 of the Family Code is amended to read:7635. (a) The child may, if under the age of 12 years, and shall, if 12 years of age or older, be made a party to the action. If the child is a minor and a party to the action, the child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court. The guardian ad litem need not be represented by counsel if the guardian ad litem is a relative of the child.(b) The (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent under Section 7611, and each man alleged to be the natural father, may be made parties and shall be given notice of the action in the manner prescribed in Section 7666 and an opportunity to be heard. Appointment of a guardian ad litem shall not be required for a minor who is a parent of the child who is the subject of the petition to establish parental relationship, unless the minor parent is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings or to assist counsel in preparing the case.(2) (A) Notice of the action and an opportunity to be heard shall not be required to be given to a presumed father if all of the following conditions are met:(i) It is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(ii) The court finds that the presumption was based on a subdivision of Section 7611 other than subdivision (d).(B) For purposes of this paragraph, a genetic test demonstrating that a male other than the presumed father is the biological father shall constitute clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(c) The court may align the parties.(d) In any initial or subsequent proceeding under this chapter where custody of, or visitation with, a minor child is in issue, the court may, if it determines it would be in the best interest of the minor child, appoint private counsel to represent the interests of the minor child pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3150) of Part 2 of Division 8.

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1352Introduced by Assembly Member FriedmanFebruary 17, 2017 An act to amend Section 7635 of the Family Code, relating to parentage. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1352, as introduced, Friedman. Father and child relationship: notice to a presumed father.The Uniform Parentage Act defines the parent and child relationship as the legal relationship existing between a child and the childs parents, including the mother and child relationship and the father and child relationship. The act governs actions to establish the existence or nonexistence of the parent and child relationship and requires notice of an action to be served, among others, on a natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent, and each man alleged to be a natural father.This bill would authorize an action to establish the existence or nonexistence of the parent and child relationship without notice and an opportunity to be heard given to a presumed father if it is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father and the presumed father was so designated because of a reason other than he receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: NO  Local Program: NO 





 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 1352

Introduced by Assembly Member FriedmanFebruary 17, 2017

Introduced by Assembly Member Friedman
February 17, 2017

 An act to amend Section 7635 of the Family Code, relating to parentage. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1352, as introduced, Friedman. Father and child relationship: notice to a presumed father.

The Uniform Parentage Act defines the parent and child relationship as the legal relationship existing between a child and the childs parents, including the mother and child relationship and the father and child relationship. The act governs actions to establish the existence or nonexistence of the parent and child relationship and requires notice of an action to be served, among others, on a natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent, and each man alleged to be a natural father.This bill would authorize an action to establish the existence or nonexistence of the parent and child relationship without notice and an opportunity to be heard given to a presumed father if it is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father and the presumed father was so designated because of a reason other than he receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child.

The Uniform Parentage Act defines the parent and child relationship as the legal relationship existing between a child and the childs parents, including the mother and child relationship and the father and child relationship. The act governs actions to establish the existence or nonexistence of the parent and child relationship and requires notice of an action to be served, among others, on a natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent, and each man alleged to be a natural father.

This bill would authorize an action to establish the existence or nonexistence of the parent and child relationship without notice and an opportunity to be heard given to a presumed father if it is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father and the presumed father was so designated because of a reason other than he receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child.

## Digest Key

## Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 7635 of the Family Code is amended to read:7635. (a) The child may, if under the age of 12 years, and shall, if 12 years of age or older, be made a party to the action. If the child is a minor and a party to the action, the child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court. The guardian ad litem need not be represented by counsel if the guardian ad litem is a relative of the child.(b) The (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent under Section 7611, and each man alleged to be the natural father, may be made parties and shall be given notice of the action in the manner prescribed in Section 7666 and an opportunity to be heard. Appointment of a guardian ad litem shall not be required for a minor who is a parent of the child who is the subject of the petition to establish parental relationship, unless the minor parent is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings or to assist counsel in preparing the case.(2) (A) Notice of the action and an opportunity to be heard shall not be required to be given to a presumed father if all of the following conditions are met:(i) It is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(ii) The court finds that the presumption was based on a subdivision of Section 7611 other than subdivision (d).(B) For purposes of this paragraph, a genetic test demonstrating that a male other than the presumed father is the biological father shall constitute clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(c) The court may align the parties.(d) In any initial or subsequent proceeding under this chapter where custody of, or visitation with, a minor child is in issue, the court may, if it determines it would be in the best interest of the minor child, appoint private counsel to represent the interests of the minor child pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3150) of Part 2 of Division 8.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 7635 of the Family Code is amended to read:7635. (a) The child may, if under the age of 12 years, and shall, if 12 years of age or older, be made a party to the action. If the child is a minor and a party to the action, the child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court. The guardian ad litem need not be represented by counsel if the guardian ad litem is a relative of the child.(b) The (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent under Section 7611, and each man alleged to be the natural father, may be made parties and shall be given notice of the action in the manner prescribed in Section 7666 and an opportunity to be heard. Appointment of a guardian ad litem shall not be required for a minor who is a parent of the child who is the subject of the petition to establish parental relationship, unless the minor parent is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings or to assist counsel in preparing the case.(2) (A) Notice of the action and an opportunity to be heard shall not be required to be given to a presumed father if all of the following conditions are met:(i) It is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(ii) The court finds that the presumption was based on a subdivision of Section 7611 other than subdivision (d).(B) For purposes of this paragraph, a genetic test demonstrating that a male other than the presumed father is the biological father shall constitute clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(c) The court may align the parties.(d) In any initial or subsequent proceeding under this chapter where custody of, or visitation with, a minor child is in issue, the court may, if it determines it would be in the best interest of the minor child, appoint private counsel to represent the interests of the minor child pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3150) of Part 2 of Division 8.

SECTION 1. Section 7635 of the Family Code is amended to read:

### SECTION 1.

7635. (a) The child may, if under the age of 12 years, and shall, if 12 years of age or older, be made a party to the action. If the child is a minor and a party to the action, the child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court. The guardian ad litem need not be represented by counsel if the guardian ad litem is a relative of the child.(b) The (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent under Section 7611, and each man alleged to be the natural father, may be made parties and shall be given notice of the action in the manner prescribed in Section 7666 and an opportunity to be heard. Appointment of a guardian ad litem shall not be required for a minor who is a parent of the child who is the subject of the petition to establish parental relationship, unless the minor parent is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings or to assist counsel in preparing the case.(2) (A) Notice of the action and an opportunity to be heard shall not be required to be given to a presumed father if all of the following conditions are met:(i) It is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(ii) The court finds that the presumption was based on a subdivision of Section 7611 other than subdivision (d).(B) For purposes of this paragraph, a genetic test demonstrating that a male other than the presumed father is the biological father shall constitute clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(c) The court may align the parties.(d) In any initial or subsequent proceeding under this chapter where custody of, or visitation with, a minor child is in issue, the court may, if it determines it would be in the best interest of the minor child, appoint private counsel to represent the interests of the minor child pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3150) of Part 2 of Division 8.

7635. (a) The child may, if under the age of 12 years, and shall, if 12 years of age or older, be made a party to the action. If the child is a minor and a party to the action, the child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court. The guardian ad litem need not be represented by counsel if the guardian ad litem is a relative of the child.(b) The (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent under Section 7611, and each man alleged to be the natural father, may be made parties and shall be given notice of the action in the manner prescribed in Section 7666 and an opportunity to be heard. Appointment of a guardian ad litem shall not be required for a minor who is a parent of the child who is the subject of the petition to establish parental relationship, unless the minor parent is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings or to assist counsel in preparing the case.(2) (A) Notice of the action and an opportunity to be heard shall not be required to be given to a presumed father if all of the following conditions are met:(i) It is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(ii) The court finds that the presumption was based on a subdivision of Section 7611 other than subdivision (d).(B) For purposes of this paragraph, a genetic test demonstrating that a male other than the presumed father is the biological father shall constitute clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(c) The court may align the parties.(d) In any initial or subsequent proceeding under this chapter where custody of, or visitation with, a minor child is in issue, the court may, if it determines it would be in the best interest of the minor child, appoint private counsel to represent the interests of the minor child pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3150) of Part 2 of Division 8.

7635. (a) The child may, if under the age of 12 years, and shall, if 12 years of age or older, be made a party to the action. If the child is a minor and a party to the action, the child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court. The guardian ad litem need not be represented by counsel if the guardian ad litem is a relative of the child.(b) The (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent under Section 7611, and each man alleged to be the natural father, may be made parties and shall be given notice of the action in the manner prescribed in Section 7666 and an opportunity to be heard. Appointment of a guardian ad litem shall not be required for a minor who is a parent of the child who is the subject of the petition to establish parental relationship, unless the minor parent is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings or to assist counsel in preparing the case.(2) (A) Notice of the action and an opportunity to be heard shall not be required to be given to a presumed father if all of the following conditions are met:(i) It is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(ii) The court finds that the presumption was based on a subdivision of Section 7611 other than subdivision (d).(B) For purposes of this paragraph, a genetic test demonstrating that a male other than the presumed father is the biological father shall constitute clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.(c) The court may align the parties.(d) In any initial or subsequent proceeding under this chapter where custody of, or visitation with, a minor child is in issue, the court may, if it determines it would be in the best interest of the minor child, appoint private counsel to represent the interests of the minor child pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3150) of Part 2 of Division 8.



7635. (a) The child may, if under the age of 12 years, and shall, if 12 years of age or older, be made a party to the action. If the child is a minor and a party to the action, the child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court. The guardian ad litem need not be represented by counsel if the guardian ad litem is a relative of the child.

(b) The (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the natural parent, each person presumed to be a parent under Section 7611, and each man alleged to be the natural father, may be made parties and shall be given notice of the action in the manner prescribed in Section 7666 and an opportunity to be heard. Appointment of a guardian ad litem shall not be required for a minor who is a parent of the child who is the subject of the petition to establish parental relationship, unless the minor parent is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings or to assist counsel in preparing the case.

(2) (A) Notice of the action and an opportunity to be heard shall not be required to be given to a presumed father if all of the following conditions are met:

(i) It is established by clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.

(ii) The court finds that the presumption was based on a subdivision of Section 7611 other than subdivision (d).

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, a genetic test demonstrating that a male other than the presumed father is the biological father shall constitute clear and convincing evidence that the presumed father is not the biological father.

(c) The court may align the parties.

(d) In any initial or subsequent proceeding under this chapter where custody of, or visitation with, a minor child is in issue, the court may, if it determines it would be in the best interest of the minor child, appoint private counsel to represent the interests of the minor child pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3150) of Part 2 of Division 8.