Arkansas

Family Law

Family Law

Section 9-10-103 – Temporary orders – Administrative orders for paternity testing

(a) If the child is not born when the accused appears before the circuit court, the court may hear evidence and may make temporary orders and findings pending the birth of the child.
(b)

(1)

(A) If the parentage of a child has not been established, the Office of Child Support Enforcement of the Revenue Division of the Department of Finance and Administration shall send a notice to the putative father, or mother, as appropriate, that he or she is a biological parent of the child.
(B) The notice shall inform the parties that the putative father and the mother of the child may sign an affidavit acknowledging paternity and that any party may request that scientifically accepted paternity testing be conducted to assist in determining the identities of the child’s parents.
(2)

(A) In all cases brought pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq., upon sworn statement of the mother, putative father, or the office alleging paternity, the office shall issue an administrative order for paternity testing that requires the mother, putative father, and minor child to submit themselves for paternity testing.
(B) The office shall cause a copy of the administrative order for paternity testing to be served on the mother and putative father.
(C) Paternity testing accomplished pursuant to an administrative order shall be conducted pursuant to the guidelines and procedures set out in § 9-10-108.
(D) Any party to an administrative order for paternity testing may object to the administrative order within twenty (20) days after receiving the order and request an administrative hearing to determine if paternity testing under the administrative order should be conducted by the office.
(3) The request for paternity testing shall be accompanied by:

(A) An affidavit alleging paternity, and setting forth facts establishing a reasonable possibility of the requisite sexual contact between the mother and putative father; or
(B) An affidavit denying paternity and setting forth facts establishing a reasonable possibility of the nonexistence of sexual contact between the mother and putative father.
(4)

(A) The office shall initially pay the costs of administrative paternity testing, but those costs shall be assessed against the putative father if paternity is established or against the applicant for services if the putative father is excluded as the biological father.
(B) Recovery by the office through all available processes shall be initiated, including income withholding, when appropriate.
(5) Any party who objects to the results of such paternity testing may request additional testing upon proper notice and advance payment for retesting, and the office shall assist the contestant in obtaining such additional testing as may be requested.
(6) If the results of paternity testing establish a ninety-five percent (95%) or more probability of inclusion that the putative father is the biological father of the child, the office may file a complaint for paternity and child support in the circuit court.
(c) Any paternity testing results obtained pursuant to an administrative order for paternity testing shall be admissible into evidence in any circuit court for the purpose of adjudicating paternity, as provided by § 9-10-108.
(d) If the results of paternity testing exclude an alleged parent from being the biological parent of the child, the office shall issue an administrative determination that declares that the excluded person is not a parent of the child.
(e) If the mother should die before the final order, the action may be revived in the name of the child, and the mother’s testimony at the temporary hearing may be introduced in the final hearing.
(f) Upon motion by a party, the court shall issue a temporary child support order in accordance with this chapter, the guidelines for child support, and the family support chart, when paternity is disputed and a judicial or administrative determination of paternity is pending, if there is clear and convincing genetic evidence of paternity.

Ark. Code § 9-10-103

Acts 1875 (Adj. Sess.), No. 24, § 4, p. 25; 1879, No. 72, § 2, p. 95; C. & M. Dig., § 775; Pope’s Dig., § 931; Acts 1955, No. 374, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 34-704; Acts 1997, No. 1296, § 4; 2001, No. 1248, §§ 1-3; 2003, No. 1185, § 11