Go to the court on the scheduled day and time. Dress neatly. Arrive 10 or 15 minutes before your scheduled hearing time. Go to the courtroom clerk and tell the clerk your name, that you are there for a hearing, and that you are representing yourself. Follow the clerk’s directions and do not interrupt any hearing in progress.
Bring the following papers with you to the hearing:
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Complaint by Mother to Determine Child Born Out of Wedlock
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Case Inventory Addendum (if needed)
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Any other party’s response that you received
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Order for Genetic Testing and copies (unless the judge already signed it)
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Order Regarding Request to Determine Child Born Out of Wedlock and copies
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Your copy of the last Proof of Service you filed
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Your copy of the Notice to Prior Court of Proceedings Affecting Minor(s) (if needed)
If the judge signed an Order for Genetic Testing, bring a copy of the test results.
When you are called, go to the place you are directed and answer the judge’s questions clearly and directly. If the legal father and/or biological father are at the hearing, they will have a turn to speak. When someone else is talking, take notes. Do not interrupt. After the other party or parties are done speaking, you will have another chance to talk. Taking notes will help you with this.
Be prepared to say why your husband’s or ex-husband’s paternity should be revoked. There are certain things you have to prove. Read the article I Am a Mother, and I Need to Change Paternity of a Child Born During My Marriage for more information.
The judge may sign the Order Regarding Request to Determine Child Born Out of Wedlock at the end of the hearing. If so, the judge will either grant your request to revoke the legal father’s paternity or deny it. If you did not have a motion hearing before this hearing, the judge may sign the Order for Genetic testing and set a date for a continued hearing. If this happens, please refer to Step 15 for information on how to do genetic testing.
Ask the clerk to stamp the copies of the order. If the courtroom clerk cannot do this, you can ask for the copies to be stamped after the hearing when you go to the clerk’s office.
If the other party or parties are at the hearing, you can ask the judge to serve them with a copy of the order in the courtroom.