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Paternity search
Verified 12 October 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
A child wishes to establish a relationship of parentage with the one he believes to be his father (who is not married to his mother)? He must perform a paternity search action. The procedure is before the court. If the child is a minor, 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 paternity action is performed by the mother if the child is a minor.
She acts on behalf of her child.
However, the guardian of the child is represented in the following cases:
- Death of mother
- Inability of the mother to manifest her will
- Absence of established maternal filiation
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 estate, it can be exercised against the State (in the person of the public prosecutor).
The mother may act during child minority.
To trigger the paternity action, contact the court of residence the person to whom the child seeks to establish a relationship of parentage.
Who shall I contact
Assistance froma lawyer is required.
Who shall I contact
Paternity tracing is not possible in the following cases:
- Absolute incest (between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and sister)
- Paternal affiliation already established
FYI
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. No challenge is possible in the event of full adoption.
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.
FYI
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 child obtains all rights related to filiation (in particular succession).
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
FYI
Civil status documents need to be updated.
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 paternity action is reserved for the adult child who seeks to establish a relationship of parentage with his alleged 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 estate, it can be exercised against the State (in the person of the public prosecutor.
The child can act until age 28.
Please note
The judge may agree to go further if he or she considers that there are specific circumstances that warrant it.
To trigger the paternity action, contact the court of residence the person to whom the child seeks to establish a relationship of parentage.
Who shall I contact
Assistance froma lawyer is required.
Who shall I contact
Paternity tracing is not possible in the following cases:
- Absolute incest (between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and sister)
- Paternal affiliation already established
FYI
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. No challenge is possible in the event of full adoption.
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.
FYI
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 parent-child relationship applies from the date of birth of the child (it is retroactive).
The child obtains all rights related to filiation (in particular succession).
FYI
Civil status documents need to be updated.
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.
When the child has died, the paternity action is reserved to his heirs (e.g. children).
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 was a parent himself and died before the age of 28, his heirs may act in his place before the expiry of the period initially available to him (10 years from the age of 18).
If the deceased had taken an action in his lifetime, his heirs can pursue it.
Please note
The judge may agree to go beyond the 28-year limit if he or she considers that there are specific circumstances that warrant it.
To trigger the paternity action, contact the court of residence the person to whom the child seeks to establish a relationship of parentage.
Who shall I contact
Assistance froma lawyer is required.
Who shall I contact
Paternity tracing is not possible in the following cases:
- Absolute incest (between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and sister)
- Paternal affiliation already established
FYI
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. No challenge is possible in the event of full adoption.
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.
FYI
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 parent-child relationship applies from the date of birth of the child (it is retroactive).
The child obtains all rights related to filiation (in particular succession).
FYI
Civil status documents need to be updated.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
- 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
- Service free
The informants who answer you are from the Department of Justice.
Actions for the purpose of establishing parentage
Time limit for seeking paternity of an adult child
FAQ
Service-Public.fr