The Uniform Parentage Act (UPA) is a set of uniform rules for establishing parentage, which may be adopted by state legislatures on a state by state basis. It declares equal rights for children regardless of their parents' marital status. Originally approved by the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) in 1973, its current revision combines the UPA, the UPUFA (1989, with revisions), and the Uniform Status of Children of Assisted Conception Act (1989, with revisions) into a single act. It includes nine sections on genetic testing.
The Uniform Parentage Act is used to officially establish a parent-child relationship between a child (or children) and unmarried parents. Once parentage is established, the court may make orders for child support, health insurance, child custody, visitation, name change, reimbursement of pregnancy and birth expenses, and restraining orders. Establishing parentage is also important in order to secure for the child certain benefits, such as social security, veteran's benefits, and inheritance rights.
