Legal Dictionary
Main Entry:
fil·i·a·tionPronunciation:
"fi-lE-'A-sh&nFunction:
nounEtymology: Late Latin
filiatio relationship of a son and father, from Latin
filius son
1 : a legal relationship of a parent and esp. a father and child that creates rights and obligations
filiation in a paternity suit —LeBlanc v. LeBlanc, 427 So. Second 1361 (1986)> —see also LEGITIMATE FILIATION —compare ACKNOWLEDGMENT, PATERNITY
NOTE: The Louisiana Supreme Court has held that children not entitled to legitimate filiation to the alleged parent, or not legitimated or formally acknowledged by the alleged parent, may establish filiation in a filiation proceeding. This has led to some instances where the legitimate children of one father have been allowed to prove filiation to another father. Such an action does not make the children illegitimate but does create a status of dual paternity.
2 : adjudication of paternity or filiation filiation —Idaho Code>