§ 303 - Jurisdiction - Vermont Statutes

§ 303. Jurisdiction

(a) The family court has jurisdiction over actions brought under this subchapter to establish parentage. The action may be joined with an action for divorce, annulment or separate maintenance. The action shall be governed by the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure. The burden of proof shall be by preponderance of the evidence.

(b) A complaint brought under this subchapter shall be accompanied by an affidavit by the person alleging parentage setting forth facts demonstrating that the person is the parent of the child. If the complaint is brought by the state, the complaint shall be accompanied by an affidavit of the parent whose rights have been assigned; in cases where the assignor is not a biological parent or is a biological parent who refuses to provide an affidavit, the affidavit may be submitted by the state; except, the affidavit alone shall not support a default judgment on the issue of parentage. (Amended 1989, No. 221 (Adj. Sess.), § 14, eff. Oct. 1, 1990; 1995, No. 59, § 4.)