Maine Legislature Maine Revised Statutes
  • Session Law
  • Statutes
  • Maine State Constitution
  • Information
  • §1862 PDF
  • §1862 MS-Word
  • Statute Search
  • Ch. 61 Contents
  • Title 19-A Contents
  • List of Titles
  • Maine Law & Disclaimer
  • Revisor's Office
  • Maine Legislature
§1861
Title 19-A: DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Part 3: PARENTS AND CHILDREN
Chapter 61: MAINE PARENTAGE ACT
Subchapter 3: VOLUNTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PARENTAGE
§1863

§1862. Execution of acknowledgment of parentage

1.  Requirements.  An acknowledgment of parentage under section 1861 must:  
A. Be in a record;   [PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. A, §1 (NEW); PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. D, §1 (AFF).]
B. Be signed, or otherwise authenticated, under penalty of perjury by the woman who gave birth to the child, other than a gestational carrier, and by the person seeking to establish parentage of the child;   [PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (AMD).]
C. State that:  
(1) There is no other presumed parent of the child or, if there is another presumed parent, state that parent's full name; and  
(2) There is no other acknowledged parent, adjudicated parent or intended parent pursuant to subchapter 7 other than the woman who gave birth to the child;   [PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (AMD).]
D. State whether there has been genetic testing and, if so, that the acknowledging person's claim of parentage is consistent with the results of the testing; and   [PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (AMD).]
E. [PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (RP).]
F. State that the signatories understand that the acknowledgment is the equivalent of a court determination of parentage of the child and that a challenge to the acknowledgment is permitted only under limited circumstances and is barred after 2 years.   [PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (AMD).]
[PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (AMD).]
2.  Notice.  Before an acknowledgment is executed under section 1861, the woman who gave birth and the acknowledging parent must be given oral and written notice of the alternatives to, the legal consequences of and the rights and responsibilities that arise from signing the acknowledgment.  
[PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (AMD).]
3.  Acknowledgment voidable.  An acknowledgment of parentage under section 1861 is voidable if it:  
A. States that another person is a presumed parent, unless a denial of parentage signed or otherwise authenticated by the presumed parent is filed with the State Registrar of Vital Statistics;   [PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. A, §1 (NEW); PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. D, §1 (AFF).]
B. States that another person is an acknowledged parent, adjudicated parent or intended parent; or   [PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (AMD).]
C. Falsely denies the existence of a parent with rights of parentage of the child under this chapter.   [PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (AMD).]
[PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (AMD).]
4.  Presumed parent. 
[PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (RP).]
SECTION HISTORY
RR 2015, c. 1, §12 (COR). PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. A, §1 (NEW). PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. D, §1 (AFF). PL 2021, c. 141, §5 (AMD).
The Revisor's Office cannot provide legal advice or interpretation of Maine law to the public.
If you need legal advice, please consult a qualified attorney.
Office of the Revisor of Statutes · 7 State House Station · State House Room 108 · Augusta, Maine 04333-0007
Data for this page extracted on 1/07/2025 11:10:17.
Maine Government
Legislature • Executive • Judicial • Agency Rules
Visit the State House
Tour Guide • Accessibility • Security Screening • Directions & Parking
Email
Office of the Revisor of Statutes