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Family Proceedings Act 1980

Children - Determination of paternity

48: Jurisdiction to establish paternity

You could also call this:

"How to find out who a child's father is in New Zealand"

Illustration for Family Proceedings Act 1980

You can apply for a paternity order for a child if the child's mother lives in New Zealand when you make the application. You can also apply if the person you think is the father lives in New Zealand at that time. The application can be made if the mother has passed away and the child lives in New Zealand.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM40443.

Topics:
Family and relationships > Children and parenting
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47: Applications for paternity orders, or

"How to find out who a child's father is"

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49: Time limit on applications for paternity orders, or

"Time limit for finding out who a child's father is"

Part 5Children
Determination of paternity

48Jurisdiction to establish paternity

  1. An application for a paternity order in respect of a child (whether it is born, unborn, living, or dead) may be made only where at the time of the filing of the application—

  2. the mother of the child resides or is domiciled in New Zealand; or
    1. the respondent in the proceedings resides or is domiciled in New Zealand; or
      1. the mother is dead and the child resides in New Zealand.