# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 8: Judgment of parentage; age of parents; notice > Massachusetts · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S8 ## Section - **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 8 - **Heading:** Judgment of parentage; age of parents; notice - **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** MA Code / Part II / Title III / Chapter 209C / Section 8 ## Text Section 8. On complaint to establish parentage, the court shall make a judgment establishing or not establishing parentage which shall be determinative for all purposes. Upon default of the defendant or the defendant's failure to personally appear, the court shall make a judgment establishing parentage if a showing is made that the complaint was served in accordance with the applicable rules of court and that the person who gave birth to the child or alleged genetic parent submits sufficient evidence of parentage, which may include evidence that sexual intercourse between the parties occurred during the probable period of conception. For good cause shown, the court may set aside an entry of default and, if a judgment has been entered, may likewise set it aside in accordance with rule 60(b) of the Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure. The age of the person alleged to be the parent in any action under this chapter, including a filing of a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, shall not be a bar to the establishment of parentage or entry of a support order pursuant to section nine. If the child or the person who gave birth to the child on behalf of the child is a recipient of public assistance and if the department of transitional assistance, the department of children and families, the division of medical assistance or any other public assistance program has not been made a party as required by section five, the court shall notify the IV–D agency as set forth in chapter 119A of the judgment. If the judgment is at variance with the child's birth certificate, the court shall order that a new birth certificate be issued under section thirteen of chapter forty-six. Section 8. On complaint to establish parentage, the court shall make a judgment establishing or not establishing parentage which shall be determinative for all purposes. Upon default of the defendant or the defendant's failure to personally appear, the court shall make a judgment establishing parentage if a showing is made that the complaint was served in accordance with the applicable rules of court and that the person who gave birth to the child or alleged genetic parent submits sufficient evidence of parentage, which may include evidence that sexual intercourse between the parties occurred during the probable period of conception. For good cause shown, the court may set aside an entry of default and, if a judgment has been entered, may likewise set it aside in accordance with rule 60(b) of the Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure. The age of the person alleged to be the parent in any action under this chapter, including a filing of a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, shall not be a bar to the establishment of parentage or entry of a support order pursuant to section nine. If the child or the person who gave birth to the child on behalf of the child is a recipient of public assistance and if the department of transitional assistance, the department of children and families, the division of medical assistance or any other public assistance program has not been made a party as required by section five, the court shall notify the IV–D agency as set forth in chapter 119A of the judgment. If the judgment is at variance with the child's birth certificate, the court shall order that a new birth certificate be issued under section thirteen of chapter forty-six. ## Nearby sections - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 1 Declaration of purpose; definition; responsibility for support](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S1.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 1A Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S1A.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 2 Parentage; acknowledgment or adjudication; statistical information of parties; transmission to registrarr](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S2.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 3 Paternity and support actions; jurisdiction; enforcement of prior orders or judgments; juvenile court commitment proceedings; parents convicted of first degree murder](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S3.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 4 Venue; service](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S4.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 5 Persons entitled to maintain actions or execute voluntary acknowledgment of parentage; parties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S5.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 6 Presumption of paternity; mandatory joinder](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S6.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 7 Representation in parentage actions; appointment of counsel; burden of proof](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S7.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 8 Judgment of parentage; age of parents; notice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S8.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 9 Judgment or order for support; health insurance; financial statement; determination of amount; notice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S9.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 10 Award of custody; criteria](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S10.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 11 Acknowledgment of parentage; approval; parental agreements regarding custody, support and visitation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S11.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 12 Trial; exclusion of public](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S12.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 13 Inspection of documents; copies; segregation of records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S13.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S8. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.