Section 7575 Of Chapter 3. Establishment Of Paternity By Voluntary Declaration From California Family Law Code >> Division 12. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 3.
7575
. (a) Either parent may rescind the voluntary declaration of
paternity by filing a rescission form with the Department of Child
Support Services within 60 days of the date of execution of the
declaration by the attesting father or attesting mother, whichever
signature is later, unless a court order for custody, visitation, or
child support has been entered in an action in which the signatory
seeking to rescind was a party. The Department of Child Support
Services shall develop a form to be used by parents to rescind the
declaration of paternity and instruction on how to complete and file
the rescission with the Department of Child Support Services. The
form shall include a declaration under penalty of perjury completed
by the person filing the rescission form that certifies that a copy
of the rescission form was sent by any form of mail requiring a
return receipt to the other person who signed the voluntary
declaration of paternity. A copy of the return receipt shall be
attached to the rescission form when filed with the Department of
Child Support Services. The form and instructions shall be written in
simple, easy to understand language and shall be made available at
the local family support office and the office of local registrar of
births and deaths. The department shall, upon written request,
provide to a court or commissioner a copy of any rescission form
filed with the department that is relevant to proceedings before the
court or commissioner.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding Section 7573, if the court finds that the
conclusions of all of the experts based upon the results of the
genetic tests performed pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with
Section 7550) are that the man who signed the voluntary declaration
is not the father of the child, the court may set aside the voluntary
declaration of paternity unless the court determines that denial of
the action to set aside the voluntary declaration of paternity is in
the best interest of the child, after consideration of all of the
following factors:
(A) The age of the child.
(B) The length of time since the execution of the voluntary
declaration of paternity by the man who signed the voluntary
declaration.
(C) The nature, duration, and quality of any relationship between
the man who signed the voluntary declaration and the child, including
the duration and frequency of any time periods during which the
child and the man who signed the voluntary declaration resided in the
same household or enjoyed a parent-child relationship.
(D) The request of the man who signed the voluntary declaration
that the parent-child relationship continue.
(E) Notice by the biological father of the child that he does not
oppose preservation of the relationship between the man who signed
the voluntary declaration and the child.
(F) The benefit or detriment to the child in establishing the
biological parentage of the child.
(G) Whether the conduct of the man who signed the voluntary
declaration has impaired the ability to ascertain the identity of, or
get support from, the biological father.
(H) Additional factors deemed by the court to be relevant to its
determination of the best interest of the child.
(2) If the court denies the action, the court shall state on the
record the basis for the denial of the action and any supporting
facts.
(3) (A) The notice of motion for genetic tests under this section
may be filed not later than two years from the date of the child's
birth by a local child support agency, the mother, the man who signed
the voluntary declaration as the child's father, or in an action to
determine the existence or nonexistence of the father and child
relationship pursuant to Section 7630 or in any action to establish
an order for child custody, visitation, or child support based upon
the voluntary declaration of paternity.
(B) The local child support agency's authority under this
subdivision is limited to those circumstances where there is a
conflict between a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity and a
judgment of paternity or a conflict between two or more voluntary
acknowledgments of paternity.
(4) The notice of motion for genetic tests pursuant to this
section shall be supported by a declaration under oath submitted by
the moving party stating the factual basis for putting the issue of
paternity before the court.
(c) (1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prejudice or
bar the rights of either parent to file an action or motion to set
aside the voluntary declaration of paternity on any of the grounds
described in, and within the time limits specified in, Section 473 of
the Code of Civil Procedure. If the action or motion to set aside a
judgment is required to be filed within a specified time period under
Section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the period within which
the action or motion to set aside the voluntary declaration of
paternity must be filed shall commence on the date that the court
makes an initial order for custody, visitation, or child support
based upon a voluntary declaration of paternity.
(2) The parent or local child support agency seeking to set aside
the voluntary declaration of paternity shall have the burden of
proof.
(3) Any order for custody, visitation, or child support shall
remain in effect until the court determines that the voluntary
declaration of paternity should be set aside, subject to the court's
power to modify the orders as otherwise provided by law.
(4) Nothing in this section is intended to restrict a court from
acting as a court of equity.
(5) If the voluntary declaration of paternity is set aside
pursuant to paragraph (1), the court shall order that the mother,
child, and alleged father submit to genetic tests pursuant to Chapter
2 (commencing with Section 7550). If the court finds that the
conclusions of all the experts, as disclosed by the evidence based
upon the genetic tests, are that the person who executed the
voluntary declaration of paternity is not the father of the child,
the question of paternity shall be resolved accordingly. If the
person who executed the declaration as the father of the child is not
excluded as a possible father, the question of paternity shall be
resolved as otherwise provided by law. If the person who executed the
declaration of paternity is ultimately determined to be the father
of the child, any child support that accrued under an order based
upon the voluntary declaration of paternity shall remain due and
owing.
(6) The Judicial Council shall develop the forms and procedures
necessary to effectuate this subdivision.