Affiliation Proceeding

A court hearing to determine whether a man against whom the action is brought is the father of an illegitimate child and thus legally bound to provide financial support for the child.

Formerly referred to as BASTARDY ACTIONS or proceedings in many jurisdictions, as of 2003 these were called PATERNITY or FILIATION PROCEEDINGS. In several states, these proceedings are governed in part by the Uniform Parentage Act, first adopted by the COMMISSIONERS ON UNIFORM LAWS in 1973. The purpose of the act is to identify natural fathers through a paternity test so that a court may order CHILD SUPPORT obligations against them.