(1) On the basis of the information produced at the pretrial hearing, the judge or magistrate conducting the hearing shall evaluate the probability of determining the existence or nonexistence of the father and child relationship in a trial and whether a judicial declaration of the relationship would be in the best interest of the child. On the basis of the evaluation, an appropriate recommendation for settlement shall be made to the parties, which may include any of the following:
That the action be dismissed with or without prejudice;
That the matter be compromised by an agreement among the alleged father, the mother, and the child in which the father and child relationship is not determined but in which a defined economic obligation is undertaken by the alleged father in favor of the child and, if appropriate, in favor of the mother, subject to approval by the judge or magistrate conducting the hearing. In reviewing the obligation undertaken by the alleged father in a compromise agreement, the judge or magistrate conducting the hearing shall consider the best interest of the child, in the light of the factors enumerated in section 19-4-116 (6), discounted by the improbability, as it appears to him, of establishing the alleged father's paternity or nonpaternity of the child in a trial of the action. In the best interest of the child, the court may order that the alleged father's identity be kept confidential. In that case, the court may designate a person or agency to receive from the alleged father and disburse on behalf of the child all amounts paid by the alleged father in fulfillment of obligations imposed on him.
That the alleged father voluntarily acknowledge his paternity of the child;
That the action be consolidated with a relinquishment action filed pursuant to part 1 of article 5 of this title.
If the parties accept a recommendation made in accordance with subsection (1) ofthis section, judgment shall be entered accordingly.
If a party refuses to accept a recommendation made under subsection (1) of thissection and genetic tests have not been taken, the court shall require the parties to submit to genetic tests, if practicable. Thereafter, the judge or magistrate shall make an appropriate final recommendation. If a party refuses to accept the final recommendation, the action shall be set for trial. If the evidence relating to paternity meets the requirements set forth in section 13-25-126 (1)(g), C.R.S., the court shall issue temporary orders establishing current child support, foster care maintenance, and medical support to remain in effect pending a final disposition of the proceeding.
The guardian ad litem may accept or refuse to accept a recommendation under thissection.
The informal hearing may be terminated and the action set for trial if the judge ormagistrate conducting the hearing finds unlikely that all parties would accept a recommendation he might make under subsection (1) or (3) of this section.
Source: L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 797, § 1, effective October 1. L. 91: (1), (3), and (5) amended, p. 363, § 36, effective April 9. L. 93: (1)(b) amended, p. 1780, § 43, effective June 6.
L. 97: (3) amended, p. 562, § 10, effective July 1; (3) amended, p. 1275, § 14, effective July 1. L. 2003: (3) amended, p. 1270, § 61, effective July 1. L. 2005: (1)(d) added, p. 102, § 4, effective July 1.
Editor's note: (1) This section was contained in a title that was repealed and reenacted in 1987. Provisions of this section, as it existed in 1987, are similar to those contained in 19-6114 as said section existed in 1986, the year prior to the repeal and reenactment of this title.
(2) Amendments made to subsection (3) by House Bill 97-1205 and Senate Bill 97-114 were harmonized.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 1997 act amending subsection (3), see section 1 of chapter 236, Session Laws of Colorado 1997.