Section 54 — Family Proceedings Act 1980: Parentage tests

54 Parentage tests (1) In any civil proceedings (whether under this Act or not) in which the parentage of a child is in issue— (a) The Court may, of its own motion or on the application of a party to the proceedings, recommend that parentage tests be carried out on— (i) The child; and (ii) Any person who may be a natural parent of the child— and that a report of the results be compiled, by a person who is qualified to compile such a report, and submitted to the Court; and (b) Whether or not the Court has made a recommendation under paragraph (a) of this subsection, the Court may, of its own motion or on the application of a party to the proceedings, adjourn the proceedings in order to allow time for such parentage tests to be carried out and for such a report to be compiled and submitted to the Court. (2) For the purposes of this section— (a) parentage tests may be carried out by any person or persons who are qualified to do so, whether or not any of them is the person by whom the report is compiled; and (b) The consent of a minor who has attained the age of 16 years to submit to parentage tests shall have the same effect as the consent of a person of full age. Compare: 1968 No 62 s 50(1) The heading to section 54 was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 150 Care of Children Act 2004 (2004 No 90) by substituting the word “ Parentage ” for the word “ Blood ” . Subsections (1)(a) and (b) and (2)(a) and (b) were amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 150 Care of Children Act 2004 (2004 No 90) by substituting the word “ parentage ” for the word “ blood ” wherever it occurs.