Paternity Determinations in Washington: Balancing the Interests of All Parties

The state and all parties in a paternity proceeding may benefit from a more efficient, administrative approach to paternity adjudication if certain procedural safeguards are assured the defendant. Section II of this Comment sketches the development of common-law and statutory rights of paternity actions in Washington. Section III examines the interests of each party in a paternity action. Section IV discusses the advantages of an administrative hearing. Section V suggests procedural safeguards for the defendant and proposes a framework for administrative determinations of paternity that is consistent with the interests of all parties. Administrative hearings in such circumstances are preferable because the overwhelming number of paternity actions are prosecuted by the state in an effort to recover the funds that it expends on Aid to Families of Dependent Children (AFDC) children. Administrative law judges specializing in paternity determinations would provide prompt, efficient case handling in an informal, less expensive environment