Vermont § 206 - Adjudicating competing claims of parentage

§ 206. Adjudicating competing claims of parentage

• (a) Competing claims of parentage. Except as otherwise provided in section 616 of this title, in a proceeding to adjudicate competing claims of parentage or challenges to a child’s
  parentage by two or more persons, the court shall adjudicate parentage in the best
  interests of the child, based on the following factors: (1) the age of the child; (2) the length of time during which each person assumed the role of parent of the child; (3) the nature of the relationship between the child and each person; (4) the harm to the child if the relationship between the child and each person is not
  recognized; (5) the basis for each person’s claim to parentage of the child; and (6) other equitable factors arising from the disruption of the relationship between the
  child and each person or the likelihood of other harm to the child. (b) Preservation of parent-child relationship. Consistent with the establishment of parentage
  under this chapter, a court may determine that a child has more than two parents if
  the court finds that it is in the best interests of the child to do so. A finding
  of best interests of the child under this subsection does not require a finding of
  unfitness of any parent or person seeking an adjudication of parentage. A determination
  of best interests may include consideration of evidence of prebirth intent to parent
  the child. (Added 2017, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2023, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. July 1, 2024.)