GEORGIA CODE (Last Updated: August 20, 2013) |
Title 19. DOMESTIC RELATIONS |
Chapter 7. PARENT AND CHILD RELATIONSHIP GENERALLY |
Article 3. DETERMINATION OF PATERNITY |
Section 19-7-46. Evidence at trial
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- (a) The results of medical tests and comparisons ordered by the court, including the statistical likelihood of the alleged parent's parentage, if available, unless a party to the paternity genetic test objects in writing at least 30 days prior to a hearing at which the results of the testing may be introduced into evidence, shall be admitted in evidence without the need for foundation testimony or other proof of authenticity or accuracy. When an objection is filed at least 30 days prior to a hearing at which the results may be introduced into evidence, the results of medical tests and comparisons ordered by the court including the statistical likelihood of the alleged parent's parentage, if available, shall be admitted in evidence when offered by a duly qualified, licensed practicing physician, duly qualified immunologist, duly qualified geneticist, or other duly qualified person.
(b) There shall exist a rebuttable presumption of paternity of a child born out of wedlock if there has been performed scientifically credible parentage-determination genetic testing which establishes at least a 97 percent probability of paternity. The rebuttable presumption of paternity can be overcome by the presentation of clear and convincing evidence as determined by the trier of fact. Parentage-determination testing shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, red cell antigen, human leucocyte antigen (HLA), red cell enzyme, and serum protein electrophoresis tests or testing by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probes.
(c) Evidence of a refusal to submit to a genetic test or other ordered medical or anthropological test is admissible to show that the alleged father is not precluded from being the father of the child.
(d) An expert's opinion concerning the time of conception is as admissible as is other expert testimony.
(e) Testimony relating to sexual access to the mother by any person on or about the probable time of conception of the child is admissible in evidence.
(f) Other relevant evidence shall be admitted as is appropriate.
Code 1933, § 74-307, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1374, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 950, § 4; Ga. L. 1993, p. 1980, § 2; Ga. L. 1994, p. 1270, § 4; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1613, § 19.