Australian Capital Territory
Parentage Act 2004    
A2004-1
Republication No 10
Effective:  29 August 2016
Republication date: 29 August 2016
Last amendment made by A2016‑7

Unauthorised version prepared by ACT Parliamentary Counsel’s Office

About this republication
The republished law
This is a republication of the Parentage Act 2004 (including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 29 August 2016.  It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law to 29 August 2016.  
The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3 and 4. 
Kinds of republications
The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):
•	authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies
•	unauthorised republications.
The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.  Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117).  The changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.  
This republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).
Uncommenced provisions and amendments
If a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol  U  appears immediately before the provision heading.  Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law are accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more information, see the home page for this law on the register.
Modifications
If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the symbol  M  appears immediately before the provision heading.  The text of the modifying provision appears in the endnotes.  For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation Act 2001, section 95.
Penalties
At the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $150 for an individual and $750 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).

Australian Capital Territory
Parentage Act 2004

Contents
	Page
Part 1	Preliminary
	1	Name of Act	2
	3	Dictionary	2
	4	Notes	2
	5	Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc	3
Part 2	Establishing parentage
Division 2.1	General
	6	Purpose of pt 2	4
Division 2.2	Presumptions about parentage
	7	Presumptions arising from marriage, civil union or civil partnership	4
	8	Presumption arising from domestic partnership	5
	9	Presumptions arising from registered information	5
	10	Presumptions arising from findings of courts	6
	11	Presumptions arising from procedure	7
Division 2.3	Effect of presumptions
	12	Whether presumptions conclusive or rebuttable	8
	13	Conflicting presumptions	8
	14	Presumptions not to allow more than 2 parents	9
Division 2.4	Parentage declarations
	15	Application for parentage declaration	9
	16	Further application for parentage declaration	10
	17	Refusal to hear application	11
	18	Adjournment of hearing	11
	19	Parentage declaration	11
	20	Application for annulment of parentage declaration	12
	21	Adjournment of hearing	12
	22	Annulment of parentage declaration	13
Division 2.5	Parentage orders
	23	Definitions for div 2.5	14
	24	Application of div 2.5	15
	25	Application for parentage order	15
	26	Parentage order	15
	27	Multiple births	18
	28	Name of child	18
	29	Effect of parentage order and access to information	19
	30	Medical information	20
	31	Effect of substitute parent agreements	21
Division 2.6	Use of medical tests in establishing parentage
	32	Definition for div 2.6	21
	33	Application of div 2.6	21
	34	Order to carry out medical tests	21
	35	Effect of failure to comply with parentage testing order	22
	36	Reports of medical tests	23
	37	Offences related to medical tests	24
Part 3	Status of children
	38	Children all of equal status	25
	39	Construction of instruments	25
Part 4	Offences relating to substitute parent agreements
	40	Meaning of commercial substitute parent agreement	27
	41	Commercial substitute parent agreements prohibited	27
	42	Procuration of substitute parent agreements	27
	43	Advertising in relation to substitute parent agreements	28
	44	Facilitating pregnancy	29
	45	Geographical nexus for offences	29
Part 5	Miscellaneous
	46	Joinder of parties	30
	47	Notification of court orders to registrar-general	30
	48	Proof of orders etc about parentage	30
	49	Approved forms	31
	50	Regulation-making power	31
Dictionary		32
Endnotes
	1	About the endnotes	34
	2	Abbreviation key	34
	3	Legislation history	35
	4	Amendment history	37
	5	Earlier republications	39

Australian Capital Territory
Parentage Act 2004

An Act relating to parentage, and for other purposes

    

Part 1	Preliminary
1	Name of Act
This Act is the Parentage Act 2004.
3	Dictionary
The dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.
Note 1	The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms used in this Act, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined elsewhere in this Act.
	For example, the signpost definition ‘parentage order, for division 2.5 (Parentage orders)—see section 23.’ means that the term ‘parentage order’ is defined in that section.
Note 2	A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to the entire Act unless the definition, or another provision of the Act, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).
4	Notes
A note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.
Note	See Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.

5	Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc
Other legislation applies in relation to offences against this Act. 
Note 1	Criminal Code
The Criminal Code, ch 2 applies to all offences against this Act (see Code, pt 2.1).  
The chapter sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility (including burdens of proof and general defences), and defines terms used for offences to which the Code applies (eg conduct, intention, recklessness and strict liability).
Note 2	Penalty units
The Legislation Act, s 133 deals with the meaning of offence penalties that are expressed in penalty units.

Part 2	Establishing parentage
Division 2.1	General
6	Purpose of pt 2
This part sets out presumptions about parentage and provides for the Supreme Court to make a parentage declaration that establishes who is a parent of a child.
Note	Parent is defined in the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1 as follows:
parent, of a child, means—
(a)	the child’s mother; or
(b)	the child’s father; or
(c)	someone else who is presumed under the Parentage Act 2004, part 2 to be a parent of the child.
Division 2.2	Presumptions about parentage
7	Presumptions arising from marriage, civil union or civil partnership
	(1)	A child born to a person while the person is married or in a civil union or civil partnership is presumed to be a child of the person and the person’s spouse, civil union partner or civil partner.
	(2)	A child born to a person within 44 weeks after the death of the person’s spouse, civil union partner or civil partner is presumed to be the child of the person and the person’s spouse, civil union partner or civil partner who died.
	(3)	A child born to a person within 44 weeks after the annulment of the person’s purported marriage is presumed to be the child of the person and the person’s purported spouse.
	(4)	A child born to a person after the end of the person’s marriage, civil union or civil partnership, but within 44 weeks after the person last separated from the person’s spouse or partner in that marriage, civil union or civil partnership, is presumed to be the child of the person and the person’s spouse or partner in that marriage, civil union or civil partnership.
8	Presumption arising from domestic partnership 
	(1)	A person is presumed to be a parent of a child if the person was in a domestic partnership with another person who gave birth to the child at any time during the period beginning not earlier than 44 weeks, and ending not later than 20 weeks, before the birth of the child.
	(2)	This presumption applies whether the child was born before or after the commencement of this Act.
	(3)	However, this section does not affect the vesting in possession or in interest of any property that happened before the commencement of this Act.
9	Presumptions arising from registered information
	(1)	A person whose name is entered in a register as the name of a parent of a child is presumed to be a parent of the child.
	(2)	This section applies to an entry in a register whether the entry was made before or after the commencement of this Act.
	(3)	In this section:
register means—
	(a)	the register under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1997; or
	(b)	a register in which births are recorded under the law of—
	(i)	the Commonwealth, a State or another Territory; or
	(ii)	a foreign jurisdiction prescribed under the regulations; or
	(c)	another register in which information about parentage is recorded under the law of—
	(i)	the Commonwealth, a State or another Territory; or
	(ii)	a foreign jurisdiction prescribed under the regulations.
10	Presumptions arising from findings of courts  
	(1)	A person is conclusively presumed to be a parent of a child if—
	(a)	during the person’s life, a court of the Territory, the Commonwealth, a State or another Territory has—
	(i)	found expressly that the person is a parent of the child; or
	(ii)	made a finding that it could not have made unless the person was a parent of the child; and
	(b)	the finding has not been changed, set aside or reversed.
	(2)	A person is presumed to have been a parent of a child if—
	(a)	after the death of the person, a court of the Territory, the Commonwealth, a State or another Territory has—
	(i)	found expressly that the person was a parent of the child; or
	(ii)	made a finding that it could not have made unless the person was a parent of the child; and
	(b)	the finding has not been changed, set aside or reversed.
	(3)	In this section:
finding, of a court, includes an order or direction of the court.
11	Presumptions arising from procedure
	(1)	This section sets out presumptions that arise if a person undergoes a procedure as a result of which the person becomes pregnant.
	(2)	The person is conclusively presumed to be a parent of any child born as a result of the pregnancy.
	(3)	If the ovum used in the procedure was produced by another person other than the person’s domestic partner at the time of the procedure, the person who produced the ovum is conclusively presumed not to be a parent of any child born as a result of the pregnancy. 
	(4)	If semen used in the procedure was produced by another person other than the person’s domestic partner at the time of the procedure, the person who produced the semen is conclusively presumed not to be a parent of any child born as a result of the pregnancy.
	(5)	If the person undergoes the procedure with the consent of the person’s domestic partner at the time of the procedure, the domestic partner is conclusively presumed to be a parent of any child born as a result of the pregnancy.
	(6)	For subsection (5), a person is presumed to consent to the carrying out of a procedure in relation to the person’s domestic partner, but the presumption is rebuttable.
	(7)	The presumptions set out in this section apply—
	(a)	whenever the pregnancy happened and whether or not it resulted from a procedure carried out in the ACT; and
	(b)	in relation to any child born as a result of the pregnancy, whether or not the child was born in the ACT. 
	(8)	However, this section does not affect the vesting in possession or in interest of any property that happened before the commencement of this Act.
	(9)	In this section:
procedure means—
	(a)	artificial insemination; or 
	(b)	the procedure of transferring into the uterus of a person an embryo derived from an ovum fertilised outside the person’s body; or
	(c)	any other way (whether medically assisted or not) by which a person can become pregnant other than by having sexual intercourse with a person.
Division 2.3	Effect of presumptions
12	Whether presumptions conclusive or rebuttable 
In a proceeding—
	(a)	a conclusive presumption under division 2.2 is not rebuttable; and
	(b)	a presumption that is not conclusive under that division is rebuttable by proof on the balance of probabilities.
Note	The presumptions arising under s 10 (1) (Presumptions arising from findings of courts) and s 11 (Presumptions arising from procedure) are conclusive. The other presumptions arising under div 2.2 are not conclusive.
13	Conflicting presumptions
	(1)	This section applies if—
	(a)	2 or more presumptions about the parentage of a child are relevant in a proceeding; and
	(b)	the presumptions conflict with each other.
	(2)	If 1 of the presumptions arises under section 10 (1) (Presumptions arising from findings of courts), that presumption prevails over any other presumption.
	(3)	If 1 of the presumptions arises under section 11 (Presumptions arising from procedure), that presumption prevails over any presumption other than a presumption that arises under section 10 (1).
	(4)	If no presumption arises under section 10 (1) or section 11, the court must decide which presumption prevails having regard to the interests of justice and the best interests of the child.
14	Presumptions not to allow more than 2 parents
Despite anything in this Act or in any other Territory law, a child cannot have more than 2 parents at any one time.
Division 2.4	Parentage declarations
15	Application for parentage declaration 
	(1)	An application for a parentage declaration may be made to the Supreme Court by—
	(a)	a parent of a child who claims that another particular person is also a parent of the child; or
	(b)	a person who claims to be a parent of a particular child; or
	(c)	a person who claims that a particular person is their parent; or
	(d)	the registrar-general, or someone else having a proper interest in the matter, if a decision is sought about whether a particular person is a parent of a particular child.
16	Further application for parentage declaration
	(1)	This section applies if—
	(a)	an application for a parentage declaration (or an appeal against an order dismissing an application) has been dismissed because the relationship claimed in the application has not been established; or
	(b)	a parentage declaration has been set aside on appeal because the relationship stated in the declaration has not been established.
	(2)	The applicant may make another application to the Supreme Court for the declaration sought in the original application if—
	(a)	facts or circumstances that existed when the original application was heard were not disclosed to the court; and
	(b)	the applicant—
	(i)	did not know of those facts or circumstances at that time or 
	(ii)	could not, by the exercise of reasonable diligence, have discovered those facts or circumstances before that time.
	(3)	On an application under this section, the court must receive the evidence given at the hearing of the original application as well as any evidence relating to facts or circumstances mentioned in subsection (2) (a).
	(4)	The court must dismiss an application under this section if, at the end of the evidence presented by the applicant, the court finds that the evidence relating to the facts and circumstances mentioned in subsection (2) (a) is not material to establishing the existence of the relationship that the applicant claims to exist or wishes to be decided.
17	Refusal to hear application 
The Supreme Court may refuse to hear an application under section 15 or section 16 in relation to a child if the court considers it would not be in the best interests of the child to hear the application.
18	Adjournment of hearing  
	(1)	This section applies if—
	(a)	a person whose interests would, in the Supreme Court’s opinion, be affected by making a parentage declaration—
	(i)	is not present or represented at the hearing of the application; and 
	(ii)	has not been given an opportunity to be present or represented; and
	(b)	the court considers the person ought to be given the opportunity to be present or represented.
	(2)	The Supreme Court may adjourn the hearing so the person can be given the opportunity.
19	Parentage declaration 
	(1)	On an application under section 15 or section 16, the Supreme Court may declare that a particular person is a parent of a particular child.
	(2)	A parentage declaration may be made about a child whether or not—
	(a)	the child is born; or
	(b)	the parent or child is alive.
20	Application for annulment of parentage declaration  
An application for an order annulling a parentage declaration may be made to the Supreme Court by—
	(a)	the applicant for the declaration; or
	(b)	a person named in the declaration; or
	(c)	a person who would, before the declaration was made, have been entitled to apply for a parentage declaration about a person named in the declaration.
21	Adjournment of hearing 
	(1)	This section applies if—
	(a)	a person whose interests would, in the Supreme Court’s opinion, be affected by making an order annulling a parentage declaration—
	(i)	is not present or represented at the hearing of the application for the order; and 
	(ii)	has not been given an opportunity to be present or represented; and
	(b)	the court considers the person ought to be given the opportunity to be present or represented.
	(2)	The Supreme Court may adjourn the hearing so the person can be given the opportunity.
22	Annulment of parentage declaration 
	(1)	The Supreme Court may, by order, annul a parentage declaration if—
	(a)	the court considers that facts exist, or circumstances have arisen, that—
	(i)	were not disclosed to the court before the declaration was made; and
	(ii)	could not, by the exercise of reasonable diligence, have been disclosed to the court by the applicant when the application for the declaration was heard; and
	(iii)	are material to the question whether the relationship stated in the declaration exists; and
	(b)	after considering those facts or circumstances the court is not satisfied that the relationship is established.
	(2)	However, subsection (1) (a) (ii) does not apply if the applicant for the order is—
	(a)	a person who was a child when the declaration was made; or
	(b)	the registrar-general.
	(3)	If the Supreme Court makes an order annulling a declaration—
	(a)	the declaration ceases to have effect; and
	(b)	the annulment does not affect anything done relying on the declaration before the order was made.
	(4)	If the Supreme Court makes an order annulling a declaration, it may make the ancillary orders (including orders varying property rights) that it considers just and equitable to place everyone affected by the annulment as far as practicable in the position each person would have been in if the declaration had not been made.
Division 2.5	Parentage orders
23	Definitions for div 2.5
In this division:
birth parent, of a child, means—
	(a)	the person who gave birth to the child; or
	(b)	the other person (if any) presumed under division 2.2 to be a parent of the child.
birth sibling, of a child, means any other child who is born as a result of the same pregnancy as the child.
commercial substitute parent agreement—see section 40.
parentage order means an order under section 26.
procedure means the procedure of transferring into the uterus of a person an embryo derived from an ovum fertilised outside the person’s body.
substitute parent, of a child—see section 24 (1) (c).
substitute parent agreement means a contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding under which—
	(a)	a person agrees—
	(i)	that the person will become, or attempt to become, pregnant; and
	(ii)	that a child born as a result of the pregnancy will be taken to be (whether by adoption, agreement or otherwise) the child of someone else; or
	(b)	a person who is pregnant agrees that a child born as a result of the pregnancy will be taken to be (whether by adoption, agreement or otherwise) the child of someone else.
24	Application of div 2.5
This division applies to a child if—
	(a)	the child was conceived as a result of a procedure carried out in the ACT; and
	(b)	neither birth parent of the child is a genetic parent of the child; and
	(c)	there is a substitute parent agreement, other than a commercial substitute parent agreement, under which 2 people (the substitute parents) have indicated their intention to apply for a parentage order about the child; and
	(d)	at least 1 of the substitute parents is a genetic parent of the child; and
	(e)	the substitute parents live in the ACT.
25	Application for parentage order
	(1)	An application may be made to the Supreme Court for a parentage order about the child.
	(2)	The application may be made by either or both of the substitute parents.
	(3)	The application may only be made when the child is between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 months.
26	Parentage order
	(1)	The Supreme Court must make a parentage order about the child if satisfied that—
	(a)	the making of the order is in the best interests of the child; and
	(b)	both birth parents freely, and with a full understanding of what is involved, agree to the making of the order.
	(2)	However, the Supreme Court may dispense with the requirement under subsection (1) (b) in relation to a birth parent if satisfied that—
	(a)	the birth parent is dead or incapacitated; or
	(b)	the applicants cannot contact the birth parent after making reasonable inquiries.
	(3)	In deciding whether to make a parentage order, the Supreme Court must take the following into consideration, if relevant:
	(a)	whether the child’s home is, and was at the time of the application, with both substitute parents;
	(b)	whether both substitute parents are at least 18 years old;
	(c)	if only 1 of the child’s substitute parents has applied for the order, and the other substitute parent is alive at the time of the application, whether—
	(i)	the other substitute parent freely, and with a full understanding of what is involved, agrees to the making of the order in favour of the applicant substitute parent; or
	(ii)	the applicant substitute parent cannot contact the other substitute parent to obtain their agreement under subparagraph (i);
	(d)	whether payment or reward (other than for expenses reasonably incurred) has been given or received by either of the child’s substitute parents, or either of the child’s birth parents, for or in consideration of—
	(i)	the making of the order; or
	(ii)	the agreement mentioned in subsection (1) (b); or
	(iii)	the handing over of the child to the substitute parents; or
	(iv)	the making of any arrangements with a view to the making of the order; 
	(e)	whether both birth parents and both substitute parents have received appropriate counselling and assessment from an independent counselling service;
	(f)	if a birth parent is dead or incapacitated or cannot be contacted—any evidence before the court that the birth parent no longer intended or intends the substitute parents to obtain a parentage order about the child.
	(4)	The Supreme Court may take into consideration anything else it considers relevant.
	(5)	For subsection (3) (e), a counselling service is not independent if it is connected with—
	(a)	the doctor who carried out the procedure that resulted in the birth of the relevant child; or
	(b)	the institution where the procedure was carried out; or
	(c)	another entity involved in carrying out the procedure.
	(6)	The Supreme Court must make a parentage order under subsection (1)—
	(a)	if both substitute parents apply for the order—in favour of both substitute parents; or
	(b)	if only 1 substitute parent applies for the order, and the other substitute parent is dead or incapacitated at the time of the application (unless the court is satisfied that, at the time of death or incapacitation, the deceased or incapacitated substitute parent no longer intended or intends to apply for a parentage order about the child)—in favour of both substitute parents; or
	(c)	if, in any other case, only 1 substitute parent applies for the order—in favour of the applicant substitute parent.
27	Multiple births
	(1)	This section applies if a child about whom an application for a parentage order has been made has a living birth sibling.
	(2)	Despite section 26 (1), the Supreme Court may make a parentage order about the child only if it also makes a parentage order about each living birth sibling of the child.
28	Name of child
	(1)	On the making of a parentage order about a child, the child has as their surname—
	(a)	if the order is made in favour of both substitute parents and they are both known by the same surname—that surname; or
	(b)	in any other case—a name the Supreme Court, on the application of either or both of the substitute parents, approves in the parentage order.
	(2)	On the making of a parentage order about a child, the child has as their given name or names a name or names the Supreme Court, on the application of either or both of the substitute parents, approves in the parentage order.
	(3)	Despite subsection (2), if the child has been generally known by a particular name or names, the Supreme Court may, in the parentage order, order that the child will have that name or those names as their given name or names.
	(4)	This section does not prevent a name of a child being later changed in accordance with Territory law.
29	Effect of parentage order and access to information
	(1)	If a parentage order is made about a child, the provisions of the Adoption Act 1993 mentioned in subsection (3) (the applied provisions) apply in relation to the parentage order as if the parentage order were an order made under that Act for the adoption of the child and the child were an adopted child.
	(2)	For that application—
	(a)	a reference in an applied provision to the adoptive parent or adoptive parents is a reference to the substitute parent or substitute parents in whose favour the parentage order was made; and
	(b)	a reference in an applied provision to the adopted child or adopted person is a reference to the child about whom the parentage order was made; and
	(c)	a reference in an applied provision to the commencement of the Adoption Act 1993 were a reference to the commencement of this Act; and
	(d)	a reference in section 48 to the director‑general were a reference to the registrar-general; and
	(e)	any other necessary changes were made.
	(3)	The applied provisions of the Adoption Act 1993 are as follows:
·	section 43 (General effect) other than subsections (1) (c) and (2) 
·	section 44 (Disposition of property)
·	section 47 (Distribution of property by trustee or personal representative)
·	section 48 (Bequest by will to unascertained adopted person)
·	section 49 (Gifts between living people)
·	section 60 (Confidentiality of records) other than subsection (1) (a)
·	section 62 (3) (Provision of information)
·	division 5.3 (Identifying information) other than section 77, section 78 and section 79.
30	Medical information
	(1)	This section applies if—
	(a)	information about the medical or psychiatric condition of a relevant person may be disclosed by a medical record holder under a law in force in the Territory; and
	(b)	the relevant person applies to the medical record holder for the information; and
	(c)	the medical record holder considers that the disclosure might be prejudicial to the physical or mental health or wellbeing of the relevant person.
	(2)	The medical record holder may—
	(a)	refuse to disclose the information to the relevant person personally; and
	(b)	instead disclose it (without identifying anyone other than the relevant person) to a doctor nominated by the relevant person.
	(3)	In this section:
relevant person means—
	(a)	the child about whom a parentage order is made; or
	(b)	a birth parent of the child; or
	(c)	a person who was a grandparent, sibling or sibling of the parents of the child before the parentage order was made; or
	(d)	a person who is a grandparent, sibling or sibling of the parents of the child because of the parentage order; or
	(e)	a descendant of the child (including their own child).
31	Effect of substitute parent agreements 
A substitute parent agreement has no legal effect other than under this division.
Division 2.6	Use of medical tests in establishing parentage
32	Definition for div 2.6
In this division:
parentage testing order—see section 34.
33	Application of div 2.6
This division applies if the parentage of a child is in issue in a civil proceeding in a court.
34	Order to carry out medical tests 
	(1)	The court may make an order (a parentage testing order) requiring stated medical tests that are relevant to establishing the parentage of the child to be carried out on a stated person within a stated time and in accordance with any stated conditions.
	(2)	The court may make the parentage testing order—
	(a)	on its own initiative; or 
	(b)	on the application of a party to the proceeding; or
	(c)	if the child is not a party—on the application of the child.
	(3)	If the child makes an application, the child must be joined as a party to the proceeding.
	(4)	When deciding whether to make the parentage testing order, the court must take into account any objection made on medical, religious or other grounds by the person to whom a copy of the order must be given.
	(5)	A copy of the parentage testing order must be given—
	(a)	if the stated person is under 18 years old—to the person who has custody of the stated person; or
	(b)	if the stated person is of unsound mind or for any other reason incapable of consenting to having the medical tests carried out—to the person who has the care and control of the stated person; or
	(c)	in any other case—to the stated person.
	(6)	The court may at any time revoke or vary the parentage testing order.
35	Effect of failure to comply with parentage testing order
	(1)	If, without reasonable excuse, a parentage testing order is not complied with the court may draw the inferences from the failure to comply that it considers appropriate.
	(2)	In particular, the court may treat the failure—
	(a)	as evidence corroborating the evidence of a party to the proceeding; or
	(b)	if the stated person is a party to the proceeding and is relying in the proceeding on a rebuttable presumption arising under division 2.2—as evidence rebutting the presumption.
	(3)	An objection mentioned in section 34 (4) that has been taken into account is not a reasonable excuse for subsection (1).
	(4)	Without limiting subsection (1) or (2), if a parentage testing order is not complied with the court may—
	(a)	dismiss the proceeding; or
	(b)	allow the proceeding to continue on the conditions it considers appropriate.
36	Reports of medical tests  
	(1)	This section applies if—
	(a)	the court makes a parentage testing order in a proceeding; and 
	(b)	a medical test required under the order is carried out in accordance with the regulations.
	(2)	A report prepared in accordance with the regulations by the person who carried out the test, and stating the result of the test, is admissible in the proceeding as evidence of matters stated in the report.
	(3)	The court may call as a witness—
	(a)	the person who prepared the report; or
	(b)	anyone who assisted in carrying out the medical tests mentioned in the report.
	(4)	The court may act under subsection (3)—
	(a)	on its own initiative; or 
	(b)	on the application of a party to the proceeding; or
	(c)	if the child whose parentage is in issue is not a party—on the application of the child.
	(5)	If the child makes an application, the child must be joined as a party to the proceeding.
	(6)	A person called as a witness under subsection (3) may be cross‑examined by any party to the proceeding, including a party who called the person.
	(7)	The cost of carrying out a medical test under the parentage testing order (including any expenses reasonably incurred in taking any steps required for the purpose) and preparing a report in relation to the test must be regarded as costs of the proceeding.
37	Offences related to medical tests 
	(1)	A person must not impersonate someone else in undergoing a medical test under a parentage testing order.
Maximum penalty:  50 penalty units, imprisonment for 6 months or both.
	(2)	A person commits an offence if the person—
	(a)	puts forward a child or someone who is of unsound mind to undergo a medical test under a parentage testing order; and
	(b)	knows that the person put forward is not the person stated in the order.
Maximum penalty:  50 penalty units, imprisonment for 6 months or both.
	(3)	A person who is not a doctor, a nurse or a person prescribed under the regulations must not take a sample of a person’s blood or other body tissue for the purpose of carrying out a medical test under a parentage testing order.
Maximum penalty:  30 penalty units.

Part 3	Status of children
    
38	Children all of equal status
	(1)	This section applies if the relationship of a person with the person’s parents, or with either of them, is to be decided under a Territory law, whether in a proceeding before a court or otherwise.
	(2)	The relationship must be decided without regard to whether the parents of the person are or have ever been married to, or in a civil union or civil partnership with, each other.
	(3)	All other relationships of or to the person, whether of consanguinity or affinity, must be decided in the same way.
	(4)	This section is subject to section 39.
	(5)	In this section:
affinity means affinity derived through marriage, civil union, civil partnership or any other domestic partnership.
39	Construction of instruments
	(1)	Subsections (2) and (3) apply to—
	(a)	an instrument other than a will or codicil that was signed after 24 March 1989; or
	(b)	an instrument other than a will or codicil that—
	(i)	was signed before that date; and
	(ii)	under the law of the place where the instrument was signed, would be interpreted without regard to the illegitimacy of people mentioned in, or taking under, the instrument.
	(2)	Any rule of law that a disposition in favour of an exnuptial child not conceived or born when an instrument takes effect is void for being contrary to public policy is abolished.
	(3)	In an instrument other than a will or codicil—
	(a)	a reference (however expressed) to a child of a person includes a reference to an exnuptial child of the person; and
	(b)	a reference (however expressed) to a person related to someone else in another way includes a reference to anyone who is related in that way regardless of whether the person or another person through whom the relationship is traced is or was an exnuptial child.
	(4)	An instrument (other than an instrument mentioned in subsection (1) or a will or codicil) that was executed before 24 March 1989 must be interpreted as if the Birth (Equality of Status) Act 1988 or this Act had not been made.
	(5)	The Birth (Equality of Status) Act 1988, part 3 and part 4 apply in relation to the interpretation of a will or codicil if the testator died on or after 24 March 1989 and before the commencement of this Act, but a will or codicil must otherwise be interpreted as if that Act had not been made.
	(6)	This Act applies to the interpretation of a will or codicil if the testator died on or after the commencement of this Act, but a will or codicil must otherwise be interpreted as if this Act had not been made.
	(7)	If an instrument contains a special power of appointment in favour of a class of people, nothing in the Birth (Equality of Status) Act 1988 or this Act extends the class of people in whose favour the appointment may be made or causes the exercise of the power to be interpreted to include anyone who is not a member of that class.
	(8)	In this section:
exnuptial child means a child whose parents were not married to each other when the child was conceived and have not later married each other (other than a child who is a legitimate child, or is taken to be a legitimate child, under the Marriage Act 1961 (Cwlth), part 6).

Part 4	Offences relating to substitute parent agreements
40	Meaning of commercial substitute parent agreement
In this Act:
commercial substitute parent agreement means a substitute parent agreement under which a person agrees to make or give to someone else a payment or reward, other than for expenses connected with—
	(a)	a pregnancy (including any attempt to become pregnant) that is the subject of the agreement; or
	(b)	the birth or care of a child born as a result of that pregnancy.
Note	For the meaning of substitute parent agreement, see s 23.
41	Commercial substitute parent agreements prohibited  
A person commits an offence if the person intentionally enters into a commercial substitute parent agreement.
Maximum penalty:  100 penalty units, imprisonment for 1 year or both.
42	Procuration of substitute parent agreements  
	(1)	A person commits an offence if the person procures someone to enter into a substitute parent agreement with a third person.
Maximum penalty:  100 penalty units, imprisonment for 1 year or both.
	(2)	However, a person does not commit an offence under subsection (1) if the person intends to be a party to the agreement.
43	Advertising in relation to substitute parent agreements  
	(1)	A person commits an offence if the person—
	(a)	publishes an advertisement, notice or anything else with the intention of inducing someone to enter into a substitute parent agreement; or
	(b)	publishes an advertisement, notice or anything else that—
	(i)	is likely to induce someone to enter into a substitute parent agreement; or
	(ii)	seeks or purports to seek someone who is willing to enter into a substitute parent agreement; or
	(iii)	states or implies that someone is willing to enter into a substitute parent agreement.
Maximum penalty:
	(a)	if the offence relates to a commercial substitute parent agreement—50 penalty units, imprisonment for 6 months or both; or
	(b)	in any other case—50 penalty units.
	(2)	In this section:
publish—something is published if it is—
	(a)	included in a newspaper, periodical publication or other publication; or
	(b)	publicly exhibited in, on, over or under a building, vehicle or place (whether or not a public place and whether on land or water), or in the air in view of people on a street or in a public place; or
	(c)	contained in a document given to someone or left on premises where someone lives or works; or
	(d)	broadcast by radio or television; or
	(e)	electronically disseminated in another way (for example, by inclusion on a web site).
Note	An example is part of the Act, is not exhaustive and may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of the provision in which it appears (see Legislation Act, s 126 and s 132).
44	Facilitating pregnancy 
A person commits an offence if—
	(a)	the person intentionally provides a professional or technical service to someone else; and
	(b)	the person knows the other person is, or intends to be, a party to a commercial substitute parent agreement; and
	(c)	the person provides the service with the intention of assisting the other person to become pregnant for the purpose of the agreement.
Maximum penalty:  100 penalty units, imprisonment for 1 year or both.
45	Geographical nexus for offences 
	(1)	A geographical nexus exists between the ACT and an offence against this part if, when the offence is committed, the person who commits the offence is ordinarily resident in the ACT.
	(2)	This section is additional to, and does not limit, the Criminal Code, section 64 (2) (Extension of offences if required geographical nexus exists).

Part 5	Miscellaneous
46	Joinder of parties 
	(1)	This section applies to a proceeding under this Act in relation to a child if a party to the proceeding who is claimed to be a parent of the child claims that someone else is, or may be, a parent of the child.
	(2)	The other person must be joined as a party to the proceeding.
47	Notification of court orders to registrar-general  
If the Supreme Court makes a parentage declaration, an order annulling a parentage declaration, or a parentage order, the registrar of the court must give a sealed copy of the declaration or order to the registrar-general within 28 days after the day on which the declaration or order is made.
48	Proof of orders etc about parentage 
In any proceeding in a Territory court, a document purporting to be any of the following is evidence of the facts stated in it and the matters appearing from it:
	(a)	an order or declaration made under this Act; 
	(b)	an official certificate, entry or record of the making of the order or declaration.
Note	A certified copy or extract from an order, declaration or certificate is admissible in a proceeding in a Territory court (see Evidence Act 2011, s 155 and s 156).
49	Approved forms
	(1)	The Minister may approve forms for this Act.
	(2)	If the Minister approves a form for a particular purpose, the form must be used for that purpose.
Note	For other provisions about forms, see Legislation Act, s 255.
	(3)	An approved form is a notifiable instrument.
Note	A notifiable instrument must be notified under the Legislation Act.
50	Regulation-making power
	(1)	The Executive may make regulations for this Act.
Note	Regulations must be notified, and presented to the Legislative Assembly, under the Legislation Act.
	(2)	A regulation may make provision in relation to––
	(a)	the carrying out of medical tests for division 2.6 (Use of medical tests in establishing parentage); and
	(b)	the preparation of reports in relation to the information obtained because of the carrying out of the medical tests.

Dictionary
(see s 3)
Note 1	The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to this Act.
Note 2	For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:
·	civil partner
·	civil partnership
·	civil union
·	civil union partner
·	doctor
·	domestic partner (see s 169 (1))
·	domestic partnership (see s 169 (2))
·	foreign country
·	nurse
·	parent
·	registrar-general.
birth parent, of a child, for division 2.5 (Parentage orders)—see section 23.
birth sibling, of a child, for division 2.5 (Parentage orders)—see section 23.
commercial substitute parent agreement—see section 40.
foreign jurisdiction means a foreign country or part of a foreign country.
genetic parent, of a child, means a person whose gametes were used to create the embryo.
parentage declaration means a declaration under section 19.
parentage order—see section 23.
parentage testing order, for division 2.6 (Use of medical tests in establishing parentage)—see section 34.
procedure, for division 2.5 (Parentage orders)—see section 23.
register of births means the register maintained under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1997 in which births are registered.
substitute parent, of a child, for division 2.5 (Parentage orders)—see section 24 (1) (c).
substitute parent agreement—see section 23.

Endnotes
1	About the endnotes
Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the amendment history.  Current modifications are not included in the republished law but are set out in the endnotes.
Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are annotated in the amendment history.  Full details of any amendments can be obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.
Uncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law.  The details of these laws are underlined in the legislation history.  Uncommenced expiries are underlined in the legislation history and amendment history.
If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.  
The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.
2	Abbreviation key

A = Act	NI = Notifiable instrument	
AF = Approved form	o = order	
am = amended	om = omitted/repealed	
amdt = amendment	ord = ordinance	
AR = Assembly resolution	orig = original	
ch = chapter	par = paragraph/subparagraph	
CN = Commencement notice	pres = present	
def = definition	prev = previous	
DI = Disallowable instrument	(prev...) = previously	
dict = dictionary	pt = part	
disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative 	r = rule/subrule	
Assembly	reloc = relocated	
div = division	renum = renumbered	
exp = expires/expired	R[X] = Republication No	
Gaz = gazette	RI = reissue	
hdg = heading	s = section/subsection	
IA = Interpretation Act 1967	sch = schedule	
ins = inserted/added	sdiv = subdivision	
LA = Legislation Act 2001	SL = Subordinate law	
LR = legislation register	sub = substituted	
LRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996	underlining = whole or part not commenced	
mod = modified/modification	or to be expired	

3	Legislation history
Parentage Act 2004 A2004-1
notified LR 18 February 2004
s 1, s 2 commenced 18 February 2004 (LA s 75 (1))
remainder commenced 22 March 2004 (s 2 and CN2004-3)
as amended by
Civil Unions Act 2006 A2006-22 sch 1 pt 1.23
notified LR 19 May 2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 19 May 2006 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.23 never commenced
Note	Act repealed by disallowance 14 June 2006 (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)
Civil Partnerships Act 2008 A2008-14 sch 1 pt 1.19
notified LR 15 May 2008
s 1, s 2 commenced 15 May 2008 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.19 commenced 19 May 2008 (s 2 and CN2008-8)
Adoption Amendment Act 2009 (No 2) A2009-36 sch 1 pt 1.4
notified LR 22 October 2009
s 1, s 2 commenced 22 October 2009 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.4 commenced 22 April 2010 (s 2 and LA s 79)
Administrative (One ACT Public Service Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2011 A2011-22 sch 1 pt 1.118
notified LR 30 June 2011
s 1, s 2 commenced 30 June 2011 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.118 commenced 1 July 2011 (s 2 (1))
Evidence (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011 A2011-48 sch 1 pt 1.28
notified LR 22 November 2011
s 1, s 2 commenced 22 November 2011 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.28 commenced 1 March 2012 (s 2 (1) and see Evidence Act 2011 A2011‑12, s 2 and CN2012-4)
Statute Law Amendment Act 2012 A2012-21 sch 3 pt 3.33
notified LR 22 May 2012
s 1, s 2 commenced 22 May 2012 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 3 pt 3.33 commenced 5 June 2012 (s 2 (1))
Civil Unions Act 2012 A2012-40 sch 3 pt 3.21
notified LR 4 September 2012
s 1, s 2 commenced 4 September 2012 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 3 pt 3.21 commenced 11 September 2012 (s 2)
Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013 A2013-39 sch 2 pt 2.19
notified LR 4 November 2013
s 1, s 2 commenced 4 November 2013 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 2 pt 2.19 commenced 7 November 2013 (s 2 and CN2013-11)
Note	The High Court held this Act to be of no effect (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55)
Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2016 A2016-7 pt 5
notified LR 29 February 2016
s 1, s 2 commenced 29 February 2016 (LA s 75 (1))
pt 5 commenced 29 August 2016 (s 2 and LA s 79)

4	Amendment history
Commencement
s 2	om LA s 89 (4)
Presumptions arising from marriage, civil union or civil partnership
s 7 hdg	sub A2006‑22 amdt 1.95 (A2006‑22 rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2008‑14 amdt 1.65; A2012‑40 amdt 3.84
s 7	am A2006‑22 amdts 1.96-1.101 (A2006‑22 rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2008‑14 amdts 1.66-1.69; A2012‑40 amdts 3.85‑3.87
	sub A2016‑7 s 46
Presumption arising from domestic partnership
s 8	am A2016‑7 s 47
Presumptions arising from procedure
s 11	sub A2016‑7 s 48
Application for parentage declaration
s 15	am A2016‑7 s 49, s 50
Annulment of parentage declaration
s 22	am A2016‑7 s 51
Definitions for div 2.5
s 23	def birth parent am A2016‑7 s 52
	def birth sibling sub A2016‑7 s 53
	def procedure sub A2016‑7 s 54
	def substitute parent agreement am A2016‑7 s 55
Application of div 2.5
s 24	(2), (3) exp 22 March 2006 (s 24 (3))
Parentage order
s 26	am A2016‑7 s 56
Name of child
s 28	am A2016‑7 s 57
Effect of parentage order and access to information
s 29	am A2009‑36 amdt 1.6; A2011‑22 amdt 1.347
Medical information
s 30	am A2016‑7 s 58, s 59
Children all of equal status
s 38	am A2006‑22 amdt 1.102, amdt 1.103 (A2006‑22 rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2008‑14 amdt 1.70; A2012‑40 amdt 3.88, amdt 3.89; A2016‑7 s 60
Construction of instruments
s 39	am A2016‑7 s 61, s 62
Proof of orders etc about parentage
s 48	sub A2011‑48 amdt 1.45
Approved forms
s 49	am A2012‑21 amdt 3.127
Regulation-making power
s 50	am A2012‑21 amdt 3.128
Repeals and consequential amendments
pt 6 hdg	om LA s 89 (3)
Legislation repealed
s 51	om LA s 89 (3)
Legislation amended—sch 1
s 52	om LA s 89 (3)
Consequential amendments
sch 1	om LA s 89 (3)
Dictionary
dict	am A2008‑14 amdt 1.71; A2012‑40 amdt 3.90, A2013‑39 amdt 2.50 (A2013‑39 never effective (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55))

5	Earlier republications
Some earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to the publication order.  
Since 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in electronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register.  A selection of authorised republications have also been published in printed format. These republications are marked with an asterisk (*) in column 1.  Electronic and printed versions of an authorised republication are identical. 

Republication No and date	Effective	Last amendment made by	Republication for	
R1
22 Mar 2004	22 Mar 2004–
22 Mar 2006	not amended	new Act	
R2
23 Mar 2006	23 Mar 2006–
18 May 2008	not amended	commenced expiry	
R3
19 May 2008	19 May 2008–
21 Apr 2010	A2008‑14	amendments by A2008‑14	
R4
22 Apr 2010	22 Apr 2010–
30 June 2011	A2009‑36	amendments by A2009‑36	
R5
1 July 2011	1 July 2011–
29 Feb 2012	A2011‑22	amendments by A2011‑22	
R6
1 Mar 2012	1 Mar 2012–
4 June 2012	A2011‑48	amendments by A2011‑48	
R7
5 June 2012	5 June 2012–
10 Sept 2012	A2012‑21	amendments by A2012‑21	
R8
11 Sept 2012	11 Sept 2012–
6 Nov 2013	A2012‑40	amendments by A2012‑40	
R9
7 Nov 2013	never effective	A2013‑39 (never effective)	amendments by A2013‑39	
R9 (RI)
24 Feb 2014	7 Nov 2013–
28 Aug 2016	A2013‑39 (never effective)	reissued because of High Court decision in relation to A2013‑39	

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