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Paternity search
Verified 01 March 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The paternity action allows a child to establish a relationship of filiation with the one he or she believes to be his or her father. The procedure is before the court. This may affect the exercise of parental authority, the father's contribution to the maintenance and upbringing of the child and the child's name.
What applies to you ?
Minor child
The paternity action allows a child to establish a relationship of filiation with the one he or she believes to be his or her father.
The action may be brought against the alleged father.
If he is deceased, the action may be brought against his heirs.
If he has no heirs or if they have renounced the succession, it can be exercised against the State.
The paternity action is reserved for the mother if the child is a minor.
The mother may act during the child's minority.
The paternity action must be brought before a judge. However, there are situations where action is not possible.
Which court has jurisdiction?
In order to initiate the paternity proceedings, the court of the place of residence of the person in respect of whom the child seeks to establish a relationship of parentage must be consulted.
Who shall I contact
The assistance of a lawyer is mandatory.
Who shall I contact
When is research impossible?
Paternity tracing is not possible in the following cases:
- Absolute incest (between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and sister)
- Child placed for adoption
Please note
if another father appears on the child's birth certificate (presumption of paternity the mother's husband or recognition), first dispute this link and get it canceled.
Proof of paternity can be provided by any means (testimonies, letters from the alleged father to the mother, etc.).
The judge may order a genetic test (paternity test) which requires the agreement of the persons concerned.
The refusal to comply may be interpreted by the judge as an admission of paternity or, as the case may be, of non-paternity.
Please note
an expert opinion on a deceased person is prohibited unless the deceased had given his consent during his lifetime.
If the court accepts the application, the filiation relationship applies from the child's date of birth (retroactive).
The court may also decide on the following:
- Parental authority
- Contribution of the father to the maintenance and upbringing of the child
- Child's name
Please note
if rejected by the court, a action to obtain a financial contribution may be attempted if no paternal filiation is established.
Adult child
The paternity action allows a child to establish a relationship of filiation with the one he or she believes to be his or her father.
The action may be brought against the alleged father.
If he is deceased, the action may be brought against his heirs.
If he has no heirs or if they have renounced the succession, it can be exercised against the State.
The paternity action is reserved for the child who seeks to establish a relationship of filiation with his alleged father.
The child may act until age 28.
The paternity action must be brought before a judge. However, there are situations where action is not possible.
Which court has jurisdiction?
In order to trigger the paternity action, the court must be seised of the place of residence of the person in respect of whom the child seeks to establish a relationship of parentage.
Who shall I contact
The assistance of a lawyer is mandatory.
Who shall I contact
When is research impossible?
The paternity action is inadmissible (the judge dismisses the application) in the following cases:
- Absolute incest (between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and sister)
- Child placed for adoption
Please note
if another father appears on the child's birth certificate (presumption of paternity the mother's husband or recognition), first dispute this link and get it canceled.
Proof of paternity can be provided by any means (testimonies, letters from the alleged father to the mother, etc.).
The judge may order a genetic test (paternity test) which requires the agreement of the persons concerned.
The refusal to comply may be interpreted by the judge as an admission of paternity or, as the case may be, of non-paternity.
Please note
an expert opinion on a deceased person is prohibited unless the deceased had given his consent during his lifetime.
If the court accepts the application, the filiation relationship applies from the child's date of birth (retroactive).
The court may also decide on the following:
- Parental authority
- Contribution of the father to the maintenance and upbringing of the child
- Child's name
Please note
if rejected by the court, a action to obtain a financial contribution may be attempted if no paternal filiation is established.
Dead child
The paternity action allows a child to establish a relationship of filiation with the one he or she believes to be his or her father.
The action may be brought against the alleged father.
If he is deceased, the action may be brought against his heirs.
If he has no heirs or if they have renounced the succession, it can be exercised against the State.
If the child is deceased, the action in search of paternity is reserved to his heirs.
If the child is a parent and dies before the age of 28, his or her heirs may act in his or her place before the expiry of the period originally available to him or her.
If the deceased had taken an action in his lifetime, his heirs can pursue it.
The paternity action must be brought before a judge. However, there are situations where action is not possible.
Which court has jurisdiction?
In order to trigger the paternity action, the court must be seised of the place of residence of the person in respect of whom the child seeks to establish a relationship of parentage.
Who shall I contact
The assistance of a lawyer is mandatory.
Who shall I contact
When is research impossible?
The paternity action is inadmissible (the judge dismisses the application) in the following cases:
- Absolute incest (between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and sister)
- Child placed for adoption
Please note
if another father appears on the child's birth certificate (presumption of paternity the mother's husband or recognition), first dispute this link and get it canceled.
Proof of paternity can be provided by any means (testimonies, letters from the alleged father to the mother, etc.).
The judge may order a genetic test (paternity test) which requires the agreement of the persons concerned.
The refusal to comply may be interpreted by the judge as an admission of paternity or, as the case may be, of non-paternity.
Please note
an expert opinion on a deceased person is prohibited unless the deceased had given his consent during his lifetime.
If the court accepts the application, the filiation relationship applies from the child's date of birth (retroactive).
The court may also decide on the following:
- Parental authority
- Contribution of the father to the maintenance and upbringing of the child
- Child's name
Please note
if rejected by the court, a action to obtain a financial contribution may be attempted if no paternal filiation is established.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
The informants who answer you are from the Department of Justice.
Cost: free service
Service available at the following times:
- Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
Actions for the purpose of establishing parentage
Placement for plenary adoption