54Parentage tests

1. In any civil proceedings (whether under this Act or not) in which the parentage of a child is in issue,—

2. the court may, of its own motion or on the application of a party to the proceedings, recommend that parentage tests be carried out on—and that a report of the results be compiled, by a person who is qualified to compile such a report, and submitted to the court; and
   1. the child; and
   2. any person who may be a natural parent of the child—
3. whether or not the court has made a recommendation under paragraph (a), the court may, of its own motion or on the application of a party to the proceedings, adjourn the proceedings in order to allow time for such parentage tests to be carried out and for such a report to be compiled and submitted to the court.

4. For the purposes of this section,—

5. parentage tests may be carried out by any person or persons who are qualified to do so, whether or not any of them is the person by whom the report is compiled; and
6. the consent of a minor who has attained the age of 16 years to submit to parentage tests shall have the same effect as the consent of a person of full age.

7. A Family Court Associate has the jurisdiction and powers of a Family Court Judge under subsection (1) in respect of an application made by a party to the proceedings.