order of filiation

noun

US, law

: a court order declaring a man to be the biological father of an illegitimate child

The parties were never married. Defendant voluntarily paid some of the child's support but stopped when the child was 12 years old. Plaintiff filed for an order of filiation and support. The trial court awarded child support and retroactive support from the date that defendant stopped paying support.

—Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 8 May 2006

called also (British) affiliation order

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

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