19-A M.R.S. §1609: Failure of alleged father to deny paternity

1. Filing of record of proceeding in court. If the alleged father fails to file a written denial of paternity with the department within 20 days after service of notice upon him, the department's attorney may file the record of the proceeding in a court as a paternity action. The filing of the record, along with proof of service pursuant to section 1604, constitutes a filing under the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 3(1) and further service is not required.

2. Failure to file written denial constitutes default. The alleged father's failure to file a written denial with the department constitutes a default under the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 55(a). The department shall forward to the alleged father by ordinary mail a copy of any request for a default judgment. The mailing of the request to the alleged father's last known address constitutes adequate notice of the default proceeding and further notice is not required.