California · Family Code
FAM §7578: (a) Every signatory to a voluntary declaration of parentage shall be made a party to a proceeding to challenge the declaration.
What this law says, in plain English
Anyone who signs a voluntary declaration of parentage must be included as a party in any legal proceeding that challenges that declaration.
Read the full statutory text
(a) Every signatory to a voluntary declaration of parentage shall be made a party to a proceeding to challenge the declaration. (b) By signing a voluntary declaration, a signatory submits to personal jurisdiction in this state in a proceeding to challenge the declaration, effective on the filing of the declaration with the Department of Child Support Services. (c) The court shall not suspend the legal responsibilities arising from a voluntary declaration of parentage, including the duty to pay child support, during the pendency of a proceeding to challenge the voluntary declaration of parentage, unless the party challenging the declaration shows good cause. (d) A party challenging a voluntary declaration of parentage has the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence. (e) If the judgment or order of the court is at variance with the child’s birth certificate, the court shall order that a new birth certificate be issued as prescribed in Article 2 (commencing with Section 102725) of Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 102 of the Health and Safety Code. (f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.
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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.