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December 05, 2025 Clouds | 16°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  1. General Laws
  2. Part II REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS
  3. Title III DOMESTIC RELATIONS
  4. Chapter 209C CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK
  5. Section 7 Representation in parentage actions; appointment of counsel; burden of proof

Section 7

Section 7: Representation in parentage actions; appointment of counsel; burden of proof

[ First paragraph effective until January 1, 2025. For text effective January 1, 2025, see below.]

  Section 7. Actions under this chapter shall be civil actions. The IV-D agency, as set forth in chapter one hundred and nineteen A, may appear on behalf of a plaintiff in an action to establish paternity. In actions in which custody or visitation are contested, court may appoint counsel to represent either party whenever the interests of justice require.

[ First paragraph as amended by 2024, 166, Sec. 32 effective January 1, 2025. See 2024, 166, Sec. 67. For text effective until January 1, 2025, see above.]

  Actions under this chapter shall be civil actions. The IV-D agency, as set forth in chapter one hundred and nineteen A, may appear on behalf of a plaintiff in an action to establish parentage. In actions in which custody or visitation are contested, court may appoint counsel to represent either party whenever the interests of justice require.

[ Second paragraph effective until January 1, 2025. For text effective January 1, 2025, see below.]

  The burden of proof in proceedings under this chapter to establish paternity shall be by clear and convincing evidence.

[ Second paragraph as amended by 2024, 166, Sec. 32 effective January 1, 2025. See 2024, 166, Sec. 67. For text effective until January 1, 2025, see above.]

  The burden of proof in proceedings under this chapter to establish parentage shall be by clear and convincing evidence.