Rhode Island General Laws Title 15. Domestic Relations § 15-8.1-305. Equivalent to adjudication, no ratification required

(a) Except as otherwise provided in §§ 15-8.1-307 and 15-8.1-308, a valid acknowledgment of parentage under § 15-8.1-301, filed with the department of vital records, is equivalent to an adjudication of parentage of a child and confers upon the acknowledged parent all of the rights and duties of a parent.

(b) Judicial or administrative ratification is neither permitted nor required for an unrescinded or unchallenged acknowledgment of parentage.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in §§ 15-8.1-307 and 15-8.1-308, a valid denial of parentage under § 15-8.1-303, filed with the department of vital records, in conjunction with a valid acknowledgment of parentage under § 15-8.1-301, is equivalent to an adjudication of the nonparentage of the presumed parent or alleged genetic parent and discharges the presumed parent or alleged genetic parent from all rights and duties of a parent.

(d) A signatory of an acknowledgment of parentage may rescind or challenge the acknowledgment in accordance with §§ 15-8.1-307 through 15-8.1-309.