All children of equal status

(1) For the purposes of the law of Belize, the relationship between every child and his father and mother shall be determined irrespective of whether his father and mother are or have been married to each other, and all other relationships shall be determined accordingly; and subject to subsection (2) of this section, all the legal consequences of that relationship shall follow as if the father and mother are or had been married to each other at the time of the birth of that child. 26 (2) Where the father and mother of a person were not married to each other at the time of that person’s birth, then, subject to section 37, the legal consequences of the relationship of father and child and of any other relationship traced in any degree through that relationship shall follow only if, (a) the father and mother of the person marry each other at some time subsequent to the birth of that person; or (b) paternity has been admitted or is otherwise established, except that where the legal consequences of the relationship are of benefit to the father, paternity has been so admitted or established during the lifetime of the child. (3) Where a person derives citizenship of Belize from his mother, that citizenship shall not be affected by reason only of subsection (2) (b) of this section. (4) Subject to subsection (6) of this section, the rule of construction whereby in any instrument words of relationship shall include only a legitimate relationship in the absence of an expression of a contrary intention is hereby abolished. (5) This section shall apply to all persons. (6) Nothing in subsections (1), (2) (b) and (4) of this section shall, (a) affect or limit the law relating to citizenship of any person; (b) affect in any way any rule of law relating to the domicile of any person; (c) limit or affect any of the provisions of this Act relative to the adoption of children; 27 (d) affect the construction of the word “heir” or of any expression which is used to create an entailed interest in real or personal property.