J.M. v. M.A.

SHEPARD, Chief Justice.

About a decade after J.M. signed a paternity affidavit, the State sought a support order on behalf of the child’s mother. In the course of this proceeding, the trial court denied J.M.’s motion to set aside the paternity affidavit, holding his absence at a previous child support hearing ratified his signing of the affidavit. We reverse the trial court’s decision as to paternity and remand this case to give J.M. the opportunity, as agreed to by the parties at oral argument, to challenge the paternity affidavit in the manner outlined in our Code.

Facts and Procedural History