Application for summons

(1) Any single woman who is with child, or who has been delivered of a child may, (a) either before the birth of that child; (b) at any time within three years after the birth of that child; (c) at any subsequent time upon proof that the man alleged to be the father of the child has within the five years next after the birth of the child paid money for its maintenance; or (d) at any time within the twelve months next after the return to Belize of the man alleged to be the father of the child, upon proof that he ceased to reside in Belize within the five years next after the birth of that child, 52 make application to the magistrate of the district in which she resides for summons for a declaration of parentage to be served on the man alleged by her to be the father of the child. (2) A single woman who has been delivered of a child may, upon proof that, (a) before the birth she was party to a marriage which would have been valid but for the provisions of any law making it void on account of her, or the other party to the marriage, being under the age at which she, or the other party, might legally contract a marriage; and (b) the said other party cohabited with her within ten months before the birth, make at any time an application under this section against that party, notwithstanding that he may not within three years next after the birth have paid money for the child’s maintenance. (3) An application under subsection (1) of this section may be made by a woman who was a single woman at the date of the birth of the child whether or not she was a single woman at the time of the application, and the reference to a single woman in subsection (2) of this section, shall be construed accordingly.