{"data":{"id":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-15-8.1-206","jurisdiction":"us-ri","citation":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-8.1-206","heading":"Adjudicating competing claims of parentage.","body":"(a) In a proceeding to adjudicate competing claims of parentage or challenges to a child’s parentage by two (2) or more persons, the court shall adjudicate parentage in the best interests of the child, based on the following factors:\n(1) The age of the child;\n(2) The length of time during which each individual assumed the role of parent of the child;\n(3) The nature of the relationship between the child and each individual;\n(4) The harm to the child if the relationship between the child and each individual is not recognized;\n(5) The basis for each individual’s claim to parentage of the child;\n(6) Other considerations arising from the disruption of the relationship between the child and each individual or the likelihood of other harm to the child; and\n(7) Other equitable factors that the court deems relevant to the child’s best interests.\n(b) If a person challenges parentage based on the results of genetic testing, in addition to the factors listed in subsection (a) of this section, the court shall consider:\n(1) The facts surrounding the discovery the individual might not be the genetic parent of the child; and\n(2) The length of time between that of the time the individual was placed on notice that the individual might not be a genetic parent and the commencement of the proceeding.","path":["Title 15 Domestic Relations","Chapter 8.1 Uniform Parentage Act","Article 2 Establishment of Parentage"],"source_url":"https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE15/15-8.1/15-2/15-8.1-206.htm","current_through":"site files published 2025-08-13","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T19:55:36Z","sha256":"ea5f8e48948f712dcfa559d50ba732eb3c1d0525e5dde0aa8e942e2144cc70a5","source_id":"us-ri","stale":true,"prev":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-15-8.1-205","next":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-15-8.1-301"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}