Bill > HB288

This bill establishes that a father's financial responsibility for a child begins at conception, allowing for child support proceedings to be initiated before a child's birth while providing some protections for pregnant mothers. Specifically, the bill allows child support orders to be entered from the month of conception as determined by a licensed healthcare provider, with the important caveat that if a mother objects to paternity genetic testing during pregnancy, the proceedings will be stayed until after the child's birth. The legislation modifies several existing Montana statutes to enable this approach, including provisions for administrative hearings, paternity establishment, and court proceedings. If a pregnancy terminates and the unborn child does not survive, the support obligation would automatically terminate. The bill aims to ensure that both parents share financial responsibility for pregnancy-related expenses and child support from the earliest possible stage, recognizing that pregnancy involves significant financial impacts. The changes allow for more proactive child support proceedings while maintaining flexibility for mothers who may want to delay paternity testing during pregnancy.

Justice

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1660