Statement of Dalia Castillo-Granados Regarding Attached Expert … · 2020. 12. 3. · maternidad o de reconocimiento forzoso, se declarare ésta, deberá inscribirse la sentencia

Children’s Immigration Law Academy (CILA) c/o South Texas College of Law

1303 San Jacinto Street, Room 928, Houston, Texas 77002 Tel: 346.444.2569

Statement of Dalia Castillo-Granados Regarding Attached Expert Declaration

I, Dalia Castillo-Granados, am the Director of the ABA Children’s Immigration Law Academy (CILA) located at South Texas College of Law Houston. On July 31, 2020, CILA received the original of the attached declaration written by Dora Isabel Melara Aguilar (hereinafter “Attorney Melara”), an expert on family law in Honduras, directly from Attorney Melara via DHL. Attorney Melara has authorized public release and dissemination of copies of the declaration. CILA provides true copies of the original (on file with our office) to attorneys who request them. I hereby certify that the attached is a true copy of the original on file with our office. __________________________________ Dalia Castillo-Granados CILA Director __________________________________ Date

10/07/2020

PRUEBA MATERIAL A

CURRICULUM VITAE

INFORMACION PERSONAL

DORA ISABEL MELARA AGUILAR Barrio Guamilito 4 calle entre 6 y 7 avenida edificio tony`s local numero

3, San Pedro Sula , Cortes, Cel. 9508-9837E-Mail: [email protected]

Lugar de Nacimiento : San Pedro Sula Cortes Fecha de Nacimiento : 11 de Agosto de 1979 Estado civil : Casada Numero Identidad : 0501-1979-08126

ESTUDIOS REALIZADOS

Universidad : Universidad Nacional Autonoma de

Honduras del Valle de Sula.

(U.N.A.H.-VS)

Titulo Obtenido : Abogada Numero de Colegiaciòn : 16428

CURSOS RECIBIDOS

Diplomado en Derecho Laboral

Colegio de Abogados de Honduras

Diplomado en Derecho Procesal Civil

Colegio de Abogados de Honduras

Diplomado en Derecho Constitucional Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras Del Valle de Sula.

Diplomado en Derecho de Familia Universidad Nacional Aùtonoma de Honduras Del Valle de Sula

Taller Nacional E Internacional de Refugiados

Centro de Investigación y Promoción de los Derechos

Humanos ( CIPRODEH )

Taller Normativa vigente y procedimientos Legales de

Investigación en Casos de Explotación Sexual Comercial.

Fiscalía Especial de la Niñez

Seminario Detección de Documentos Fraudulentos

Departamento de Seguridad de Los Estados Unidos de Norte

América.

Seminarios Obligaciones Y Contratos Grupo Hondureño de Investigación y Desarrollo Social

Capacitación de la Red de Defensores Globales sobre la

explotación laboral en estados Unidos Global Workers Justice Alliance

Capacitación sobre el Trafico y trata de Personas ( ACNUR )

Capacitacion sobre los desplazados internos y solicitantes de asilo. Consejo Noruego y ACNUR.

Taller de protocolos de solicitantes de asilo ACNUR.

Taller sobre la migracion, causas y efectos Comision Nacional De Los Derechos Humanos (CONADEH)

EXPERIENCIA LABORAL Dirección General De Migración Y Extranjería Inspectora de Migración Aeropuerto Ramón Villeda Morales

Chequeo de pasajeron en aplicación del ley de migracion y extranjeria, salida de menores, custodias.

Inspectora de Migración Delegación de Puerto Cortes Aplicación de resgitros de pasajeros maritimos y imopecciones terrestres.

Jefe de Inspectores de Migración Sección de pasaportes San Pedro Sula Aplicación de leyes y procedimientos en residencias, permisos especiales, custodias, permisos de trabajo a extranjeros, pasaportes.

Sub- Delegada de Migración Delegación de Tela, Atlántida Aplicación de leyes migratorias en area Maritima y terrestre.

Asesora Legal del Centro De Atención Al Migrante Retornado Atencion a Personas mayores de 18 años, deportadas de Estados Unidos.

Supervisora de Migracion en el Centro de Atencion Belen Atencion a menores y nucleos familiares retornados de Estados Unidos y Mexico.

Abogada independiente en la Oficina Juridica Melara Gomez

Actualmente miembro de la Red de Justicia en Movimiento para migrantes.

REFERENCIAS PERSONALES Abog. Eva Dorila Avila Tel. (504) 3336-7684

Sor. Valdete Wilemann Tel.(593) 99 703-5613

PRUEBA MATERIAL B

Centro Electrónico de Documentación e Información Judicial

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3) Cuando se demuestre la utilidad y necesidad para la familia, de que el patrimonio quede extinguido;

4) Cuando por causa de utilidad pública se expropien los bienes que lo forman, previa indemnización; y

5) Por vencerse el término por el cual fue constituido.

Artículo 94. El patrimonio familiar a término fijo, debe comprender el término indispensable para que el menor de los miembros actuales de la familia alcance la mayoría de edad, pero en ningún caso podrá constituirse un patrimonio familiar por un término menor de quince (15) años.

Artículo 95. Terminado el derecho al patrimonio familiar, los bienes sobre los que

fue constituido, volverán al poder de quien lo constituyó o de sus herederos; pero si el dominio corresponde a los beneficiarios, tendrán derecho a hacer cesar la indivisión.

Artículo 96. Cuando el patrimonio se extinga por expropiación del inmueble, la indemnización respectiva se depositará en una institución bancaria mientras se constituye un nuevo patrimonio familiar.

Artículo 97. Puede disminuirse el valor del patrimonio familiar cuando por causas

posteriores a su establecimiento, ha sobrepasado la cantidad fijada como máximo, o porque sea de utilidad y necesidad para la familia dicha disminución.

Artículo 98. El Ministerio Público intervendrá en la constitución, extinción y

reducción del patrimonio familiar.

TÍTULO III

DE LA PATERNIDAD Y LA FILIACIÓN

CAPÍTULO I

DE LA PATERNIDAD

Artículo 99. Todos los hijos son iguales ante la Ley, teniendo ellos los mismos

derechos y deberes.

No se reconocen calificaciones sobre la naturaleza de la filiación.

En ningún registro o documento referente a la filiación, se consignará declaración alguna diferenciando los nacimientos ni señalando el estado civil de los padres.


21

Artículo 100. Los padres de familia pobres, con (5) cinco o más hijos menores,

recibirán especial protección del Estado, por medio de los programas de seguridad y de asistencia social, creados al efecto.

Los padres a que se refiere este Artículo, gozarán de preferencia para el desempeño de cargos públicos, en iguales circunstancias de idoneidad.

Artículo 101. Por el reconocimiento o declaración de paternidad, el hijo ingresa

jurídicamente a formar parte de la familia de sus progenitores para todos los efectos previstos en este Código.

CAPÍTULO II

DE LA INSCRIPCIÓN

Artículo 102. La inscripción del nacimiento del hijo efectuada en el Registro del estado civil por uno solo de los padres, surtirá efectos legales con respecto a ambos, si existiere matrimonio civil o unión de hecho reconocida legalmente.

Artículo 103. El reconocimiento del hijo que fuere mayor de edad requerirá su consentimiento, otorgado en Escritura Pública.

Artículo 104. La filiación de los hijos constará en el libro de inscripción de

nacimientos del respectivo Registro Civil. La certificación del acta de inscripción expedida con las formalidades legales, es prueba de nacimiento; asimismo cuando fuere reconocida, o declarada su filiación en documento auténtico, Escritura Pública o sentencia judicial y hecha la anotación por el Registrador Civil que corresponda.

Artículo 105. En las inscripciones de nacimiento que no se practiquen por

declaraciones de los padres, las personas que conforme a la Ley las realicen deberán consignar el nombre de aquellos, sin que esto sea prueba de la filiación.

CAPÍTULO III

DE LA INVESTIGACIÓN Y PRESUNCIÓN DE LA PATERNIDAD.

RECONOCIMIENTO

Artículo 106. Se autoriza la investigación de la paternidad como el procedimiento

apropiado para identificar y concretar la individualidad del padre, de la madre o de ambos, con relación a la persona de determinado hijo.


22

El derecho para solicitar la investigación de la paternidad corresponde al hijo y a sus descendientes, así como al padre o madre que lo hubiere reconocido.

Este derecho es imprescriptible.

La sentencia en que se establezca la paternidad deberá ser inscrita por el Registrador Civil.

Artículo 107. Se presumirá que son hijos de las personas unidas en matrimonio:

1) Los nacidos durante la vida matrimonial; y 2) Los nacidos dentro de los trescientos (300) días siguientes a la fecha de la

extinción del vínculo matrimonial, si la madre no hubiere contraído nuevas nupcias; y,

3) Las presunciones establecidas en este Artículo se entienden sin perjuicio de lo dispuesto en el Artículo 21 numeral 2.

Artículo 108. Se presume la paternidad:

Cuando pueda inferirse de la declaración del padre, formulada en escrito indubitado;

1) En los casos de sentencia condenatoria por violación, estupro o rapto cuando la fecha del hecho punible concuerde con la época de la concepción; y,

2) Cuando haya habido posesión notoria del estado de hijo demostrado por el trato personal y social hacia la madre durante el embarazo y el parto y comprobado por hechos fidedignos.

Artículo 109. La posesión notoria del estado de hijo consiste en que sus padres lo hayan tratado como tal, dándole o permitiéndole llevar sus apellidos, proveyéndole a su asistencia, educación y mantenimiento de un modo competente y presentándolo en ese carácter a la sociedad y que ésta lo haya reputado y reconocido como hijo de tales padres durante un tiempo no menor de un (1) año.

Artículo 110. Pueden ser reconocidos por sus padres, todos los hijos habidos fuera de matrimonio o de la unión de hecho. Dicho reconocimiento puede hacerse: Al asentarse la correspondiente partida de nacimiento en el Registro Civil; por Escritura Pública o por acto testamentario.

Artículo 111. Puede hacerse declaración en Instrumento Público Notarial del reconocimiento del hijo que está por nacer, pero ésta producirá efectos después del nacimiento y una vez anotada en el Registro Civil. Igualmente, puede ser reconocido el hijo que hubiere fallecido.


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CAPÍTULO IV

DE LA PRUEBA DE LA PATERNIDAD Y/O MATERNIDAD

Artículo 1128. La paternidad y/o maternidad se prueba con la inscripción o certificación del acta de nacimiento o por reconocimiento inscrito por el Registrador Civil.

Artículo 1139. Si con motivo de la acción de investigación de paternidad y/o maternidad o de reconocimiento forzoso, se declarare ésta, deberá inscribirse la sentencia correspondiente por el Registrador Civil, colocando la respectiva nota marginal al margen del asiento del Acta de Nacimiento del hijo (a) a favor de quien se hubiere dictado la sentencia.

CAPÍTULO V

DE LA IMPUGNACIÓN

Artículo 114. La inscripción del nacimiento del hijo, hecha conforme a lo establecido en el Artículo 102, podrá ser impugnada por el cónyuge que no hubiere concurrido al acto. La impugnación sólo podrá fundarse en la imposibilidad de los cónyuges para haber procreado el hijo.

Artículo 11510. La demanda para impugnar la paternidad y/o la maternidad deberá

entablarse dentro del primer año, contado desde la fecha del nacimiento del presunto hijo o desde aquella en que el interesado tuvo noticia del hecho.

Podrá igualmente entablarse por los herederos de la persona en contra de quien se hiciere valer la presunción, si está muere antes de vencerse el termino dentro del cual puede desconocerse el presunto hijo y siempre que lo hagan dentro de los días que faltan para que venza el plazo.

8

Artículo 112. Reformado mediante Decreto 211-2006 de fecha 22 de enero de 2007, contentivo del Código Procesal Civil, Publicado en La Gaceta No.31313 de fecha 26 de mayo de 2007.

9

Artículo 113. Reformado mediante Decreto 211-2006 de fecha 22 de enero de 2007, contentivo del Código Procesal Civil, Publicado en La Gaceta No. 31313 de fecha 26 de mayo de 2007.

10

Artículo 115. Reformado mediante Decreto 211-2006 de fecha 22 de enero de 2007, contentivo del Código Procesal Civil, Publicado en La Gaceta # 31313 de fecha 26 de mayo de 2007.


24

Artículo 116. El hijo reconocido durante su minoría de edad, sólo podrá impugnar

el reconocimiento dentro del año siguiente a la fecha en que cumpla su mayoría de edad.

Artículo 117. La persona que se considere con derecho a inscribir como suyo, el hijo reconocido previamente por otra persona, en virtud de considerase su verdadero progenitor, podrá en cualquier tiempo establecer la acción conducente a ese fin.

Artículo 11811. En los procesos de investigación o de impugnación de la

paternidad y/o maternidad, son admisibles las pruebas de los grupos sanguíneos, marcadores genéticos y cualquier otro método de exclusión o confirmación de paternidad y/o maternidad, que pueda desarrollarse en el futuro. Los estudios y dictámenes mencionados deberán ser hechos por Microbiólogos con especialidad en Biología Molecular o por Médicos con entrenamiento adecuado en Inmunohematología.

CAPÍTULO VI

DE LAS REGLAS RELATIVAS AL HIJO PÓSTUMO

Artículo 119. Muerto el marido la mujer que se creyere embarazada podrá

denunciarlo a los que, no existiendo el hijo póstumo serían llamados a suceder al difunto.

La denuncia deberá hacerse dentro de los treinta (30) días subsiguientes a su conocimiento de la muerte del marido, pero podrá justificarse o disculparse tal retardo.

Artículo 119-A12. La madre tendrá derecho para que los bienes que han de corresponder al póstumo, si nace vivo y en el tiempo debido, se le asigne lo necesario para su subsistencia, atención prenatal y posnatal.

11

Artículo 118. Reformado mediante Decreto 211-2006 de fecha 22 de enero de 2007, contentivo del Código Procesal Civil, Publicado en La Gaceta # 31313 de fecha 26 de mayo de 2007.

12

Artículo 119 A. Reformado por Adición mediante Decreto 35-2013, del 27 de febrero de 2013. Publicado en el Diario Oficial La Gaceta No. 33,222 de fecha 6 de septiembre de 2013.

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Sección A Acuerdos y Leyes

REPÚBLICA DE HONDURAS - TEGUCIGALPA, M. D. C., 12 DE MAYO DEL 2015 No. 33,727

Artículo 65.- Cuando en la inscripción de nacimiento del

inscrito apareciere sólo el apellido materno, el Registrador Civil

no podrá generar ningún otro apellido, salvo el segundo apellido

de su madre si lo tuviese, previa resolución del Oficial Civil.

Artículo 66.- Cuando en la inscripción de nacimiento, la

madre del inscrito sólo aparece con el apellido materno, el

Registrador Civil sólo podrá asignarle al inscrito ese apellido,

aun cuando en la inscripción del hijo aparecieran los abuelos

maternos.

Artículo 67.- Cuando en el cuerpo de una inscripción sólo

constare el nombre de la madre del inscrito, no deberá

consignársele ningún apellido, aun cuando en la inscripción

aparecieren los abuelos maternos. En este caso el Registrador

Civil deberá certificar la inscripción literalmente e indicarle al

interesado que proceda ante el Oficial Civil, a solicitar

rectificación a efecto que se adicionen los apellidos en la

inscripción de nacimiento respectiva.

Artículo 68.- La declaración hecha por cualquiera de los

padres ante el Registrador Civil, solicitando la inscripción de

nacimiento de su hijo, es un reconocimiento de paternidad o

maternidad, según sea el caso.

Si en la inscripción no aparece el nombre de los padres

del inscrito, deberá certificarse tal y como aparece en el cuerpo

de la inscripción, caso en el cual el interesado podrá actuar de

la forma siguiente:

1. Si el inscrito nació dentro del matrimonio o de unión de

hecho legalmente reconocida, cualquiera de sus padres o

el interesado si fuere mayor de edad, podrán comparecer

ante el Oficial Civil a solicitar se adicione en la inscripción

de nacimiento del inscrito el nombre y apellidos del padre

o madre.

2. Si el inscrito nació fuera del matrimonio o de unión de

hecho y únicamente fuere reconocido por su padre o su

madre, quien no lo hubiera hecho, podrá proceder a

reconocerlo legalmente.

3. Si al momento de la inscripción de nacimiento se omitió

la condición bajo la cual actuaba el compareciente y este

fuera el padre o la madre, por ser deducible de la

información contenida en la inscripción, el Oficial Civil

podrá adicionar dicha condición valorando las pruebas

de mérito, siempre y cuando medien las siguientes

circunstancias:

a. Apellidos generados en el encabezado que

concuerden con el o la compareciente;

b. Que aparezca la información de los abuelos

paternos o maternos según sea el caso;

c. Que en la inscripción aparezca la firma, la huella, o

en su defecto la leyenda que diga “el compareciente

no firma por no saber leer ni escribir”.

Las disposiciones anteriores no desconocen ni restringen

los derechos que legalmente competen a los hijos no

reconocidos.

Artículo 69.- Toda persona tiene derecho a usar los

nombres y apellidos con que haya sido individualizado en su

respectiva inscripción de nacimiento.

Todo lo anterior es sin perjuicio a lo establecido en el

artículo 125 de la Ley del RNP, y de los derechos adquiridos

al amparo de resoluciones emitidas por el Tribunal Nacional

de Elecciones.

Artículo 70.- Solamente mediante resolución del Oficial

Civil y a petición de parte, podrá modificarse el cambio de

letras en los nombres, siempre que fonéticamente no impliquen

cambios sustantivos; o en los casos de nombres en idioma

extranjero de difícil escritura. O que evidentemente hayan

sido generados por errores del Registrador, cuando constare

en los documentos que obran en poder del Registro Nacional

de las Personas.

Artículo 71.- El Oficial Civil podrá autorizar, a petición

de parte, el cambio de nombre, siempre y cuando de la

información contenida en los documentos de archivos

registrales y de identificación, tanto física como digital, resultare

evidencia de error u omisión imputable al Registro, a las

Secretarías Municipales, o al declarante en el momento de la

inscripción, y en los siguientes casos:

a. En el caso de lo establecido en el artículo anterior de

este Reglamento.

b. En el caso de doble inscripción previo dictamen del

Departamento de Registro Civil y del Departamento de

Asesoría Legal en su orden; adjuntando los requisitos

de Ley y la hoja de antecedentes penales cuando

procediere.

c. En aquellos casos que sean nombres contrarios a la moral

y a las buenas costumbres, que dañen psicológicamente

al niño o niña. Previo dictamen de Medicina Forense

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referida con o sin errores ortográficos. En aquellas inscripciones

ordenadas mediante sentencia judicial se respetará el orden

de los nombres y apellidos tal y como aparecen consignados

en el cuerpo de la inscripción, según la sentencia. Al certificarse

no deberá generarse un orden diferente a lo ordenado, no

importando si difieren con los apellidos de los padres. En todo

caso, el interesado podrá solicitar la rectificación o adición al

Oficial Civil.

Artículo 117.- Cuando en el acta de inscripción de

nacimiento, aparezca sólo el apellido materno o paterno del

inscrito, la certificación se hará sólo con el apellido que allí

aparezca. En ningún caso, el Registrador Civil, tomará encuenta los apellidos de los abuelos, aun cuando estos aparezcan

en el acta.

Artículo 118.- En las certificaciones de inscripciones de

nacimiento de personas fallecidas, se hará constar

obligatoriamente esta circunstancia y cualquier otra que conste

en el Registro Civil.

Artículo 119.- En las inscripciones de defunciones en que

no aparece en el cuerpo del acta los apellidos del difunto, la

parte interesada deberá comparecer ante el Oficial Civil

Departamental o Seccional correspondiente a solicitar la adiciónde dicha información

Artículo 120.- La información contenida en todas las

certificaciones es válida a la fecha de emisión de la misma y la

vigencia de los datos quedará a discreción de la autoridad o

instancia que la solicite. Sin embargo, para efectos de autenticar

documentos en el RNP, las certificaciones emitidas no podrán

tener una antigüedad mayor a tres meses.

Para modificar o actualizar la información de las bases de

datos de Registro Civil bastará la certificación, copia del folio

debidamente validada con la firma y sello del actual RegistradorCivil Municipal y con su respectiva fecha de emisión la

comunicación de anotación marginal. Previo refrendo de la

Secretaría General, y con una antigüedad no mayor de treinta

(30) días.

CAPÍTULO IV

REQUISITOS ESPECIALES DE LAS

INSCRIPCIONES

SECCIÓN I

INSCRIPCIONES DE NACIMIENTOS

Artículo 121.- La inscripción del nacimiento se haráobligatoriamente dentro del plazo de un año de ocurrido el

hecho.

Artículo 122.- Están obligados a solicitar la inscripción

de nacimiento dentro del plazo antes mencionado en el Registro

Civil:

a) El padre o la madre directamente o por medio de sus

apoderados legales.

b) Los representantes legales.

c) Los parientes que habitan en el mismo domicilio.

d) Otras personas que asistieron al parto.

e) Las personas autorizadas en representación de la

institución asistencial bajo cuya custodia se encuentre.

f) El Juez competente que conozca del riesgo social del

menor que no está inscrito.

g) El Alcalde Auxiliar, en el caso del artículo 58 de la Ley.

Artículo 123.- La declaración hecha ante el Registrador

Civil para la inscripción de un menor se presume salvo prueba

en contrario que ha sido hecha bajo juramento.

Se presume salvo prueba en contrario, que quien solicita

la inscripción está facultado para asignarle el nombre al inscrito.

Artículo 124.-Si en el momento de la inscripción surgiera

alguna discrepancia entre el nombre que aparece en la

constancia del nacimiento y la voluntad expresa del padre o

madre, prevalecerá la asignación hecha por cualquiera de los

padres.

Artículo 125.- La inscripción de nacimiento deberá

efectuarse por una sola vez, en cualquier oficina del Registro

Civil, haciendo constar el lugar, municipio y departamento de

nacimiento.

Artículo 126.- El médico, enfermera o partera, que atendió

o constató el nacimiento ocurrido en el establecimiento de

salud pública o privado o en casa particular, deberán extender

y entregar a la madre o interesado la Constancia de Nacimiento,

que acredite la ocurrencia del hecho.

Cuando el nacimiento no fue atendido o constatado por

médico, enfermera o partera, el Alcalde Auxiliar está obligado

a informar sobre el hecho al Registro Civil de su jurisdicción; a

ese efecto procederá a obtener la información y la

documentación necesaria para ser entregada al Registrador

Civil para que proceda a su inscripción.

Artículo 127.- La constancia de nacimiento, es el

formulario oficial aprobado por Registro Nacional de las

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Personas, sirve como soporte para la inscripción, debiendo

ser archivada en orden cronológico y en la misma se deberá

hacer referencia del número de tomo, folio, acta y año de

inscripción en el Registro Civil. Este documento tendrá además

un informe estadístico del nacimiento, cuyo contenido será

regulado por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística.

Es de carácter obligatorio para los empleados del Registro

Civil Municipal el archivo cronológico de dichas constancias

de nacimiento, debiendo desprender el informe estadístico para

ser enviado a la Oficialía Civil Departamental o Seccional

correspondiente, quienes a su vez lo entregarán al Instituto

Nacional de Estadística, según el procedimiento establecido

en el manual respectivo.

Artículo 128.- La inscripción del nacimiento se hará a

solicitud del compareciente, presentando los documentos

siguientes:

1) Constancia de Nacimiento expedida por médico,

enfermera, partera o alcalde auxiliar.

2) Tarjeta de Identidad del padre o la madre o de ambos

que lo reconocen. Cuando el padre o la madre es menor

de edad, presentará el Carné de Identificación de

Menores o certificación de acta de nacimiento.

3) Cuando no comparecen los padres, el compareciente

deberá presentar su Tarjeta de Identidad y la de los

padres, de conformidad a lo establecido en el artículo

55 de la Ley del RNP.

4) En los casos en que el padre o madre, no tuvieran Tarjeta

de Identidad o Carné de Identificación de Menores,

presentará la contraseña de que tiene en trámite la misma

debiendo acompañar además un documento con

fotografía, y en última instancia la certificación de

nacimiento respectiva, en este último caso se hará la

observación que proceda a solicitar su Tarjeta de

Identidad.

5) En los casos en que el padre, la madre o el compareciente

fuesen extranjeros, presentarán carné de residencia,

pasaporte o documento de identificación de su país.

Artículo 129.- Cuando el padre o la madre que comparece

no están inscritos en el Registro Civil, podrán inscribir el

nacimiento del hijo ocurrido en el territorio nacional. Haciendo

constar dicha circunstancia en la casilla de enmiendas y

observaciones.

Así mismo esta inscripción servirá como soporte

documental para la reposición por omisión de la inscripción

de nacimiento del padre o la madre.

Artículo 130.- Se presume la paternidad, salvo prueba en

contrario, según lo establecido en la Ley de maternidad y

paternidad responsable o por el hecho de manifestar o exhibir

la madre del menor en el momento de la inscripción, el nombre

o la Tarjeta de Identidad de la persona a quien se le atribuye

dicha paternidad. Debiendo el Registrador Civil hacer constar

dicha circunstancia en la casilla de enmiendas y observaciones

Artículo 131.- Los nacimientos no inscritos en el plazo

legal, podrán inscribirse mediante un trámite administrativo de

Reposición por Omisión solicitado ante el Oficial Civil

competente, conforme a lo establecido por el artículo 84 de la

Ley del Registro Nacional de las Personas.

Debiendo inscribirse la reposición por omisión en el

Registro Civil del Municipio que emitió la constancia de

negativa, dicha constancia será extendida en el municipio donde

ocurrió el nacimiento.

Artículo 132.- Los nacimientos ocurridos en el extranjero

de personas cuyo padre o madre sean hondureños, se

asentarán en un libro especial que al efecto deberán llevar los

Agentes Diplomáticos o Consulares.

Los Agentes Diplomáticos o Consulares, deberán remitir

trimestralmente certificación de la citada inscripción con los

documentos de respaldo, para que la Dirección del RNP,

ordene su inscripción en el Registro Civil del Distrito Central,

si los padres no hubieren indicado otro municipio.

Artículo 133.- Si el nacimiento ocurrido en el extranjero

en el caso del artículo anterior, hubiese sido inscrito en el

Registro Civil del país donde ocurrió el nacimiento, los

interesados o parientes dentro del cuarto grado de

consanguinidad debidamente acreditado, podrán solicitar en

cualquier tiempo la autorización de la incorporación ante la

Dirección del RNP, indicando el municipio en el que desea se

efectúe la misma, acompañando la certificación de la

inscripción de nacimiento debidamente legalizada y la del padre

o madre para acreditar que son hondureños. Dicha resolución

deberá ser emitida en un plazo no mayor de treinta días hábiles

contados a partir de la fecha de presentación de la solicitud.

Sin embargo, en los casos de hijos de hondureños por

nacimiento, nacidos en los municipios fronterizos con las

Opinion of Dora Isabel Melara Aguilar

OPINION OF A LEGAL EXPERT IN HONDURAN FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY DORA ISABEL MELARA AGUILAR

BEFORE ME, the undersigned, personally appeared DORA ISABEL MELARA AGUILAR who, being duly sworn, stated the following: Introduction and Requirements 1. “My name is Dora Isabel Melara Aguilar. I am over 18 years of age, of sound mind, and

capable of making this statement. I have personal knowledge of the facts written in this statement, and I attest that the facts declared herein are true and correct, under penalty of perjury.

2. I am an attorney and I have possessed a license to practice law in the Republic of

Honduras since 2010. The number of my law license is 16428. I practice family law, and I have been practicing for approximately 4 years. My law firm is located in Barrio Guamilito, 4 street between avenue 6 and 7 of the city of San Pedro Sula, Department of Cortes, Honduras. I handle family law cases involving paternity issues. As part of my practice, I regularly consult and apply Honduran family law, including articles 102 to 118 of the Family Code that establish registration, investigation and presumption of paternity, recognition of paternity, proof of paternity and contesting paternity.

3. A true and correct copy of my résumé (curriculum vitae) describing my work and

education is attached as Exhibit “A”. Honduran family law is the main focus of my current practice. Before entering private practice, I worked as a legal advisor at the Center for Migrant Assistance. Based on my knowledge, education, preparation and professional experience as an attorney, I possess the requirements necessary to form an expert opinion regarding how paternity is established in Honduras.

4. I have served as an expert consultant on Honduran civil and family law in cases before

the family courts in Honduras. 5. ABA Children’s Immigration Law Academy (CILA) asked me to provide an expert

opinion explaining Honduran laws regarding paternity. Specifically, I was asked to evaluate how paternity of a minor is established in Honduras, both in the context of voluntary registration as the father of a minor and in the context of the legal attribution of paternity of a minor to a father.

6. CILA did not pay for my services. But, CILA collaborated with an organization named

Justice in Motion to communicate with me. I am a Defender and a member of the Justice in Motion network, whose goal is, among others, to connect attorneys in the U.S.A. with Defenders such as myself in the area of Mexico and Central America in order to facilitate the compilation of documents necessary for legal proceedings in the United States. We Defenders receive an hourly honorarium for our services, as well as reimbursement of expenses incurred during the proceeding.


The Honduran Legal System and Sources of Family Law 7. Honduras is a civil law country. This means that the primary source of law is legislation

that has been codified. When a legal matter involves family law, the Family Code governs. In cases not governed by the Family Code, then general principles of law, norms established in international treaties, the Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure, the Civil Registry Law and other laws that are related to the Family Code apply.

8. When forming an opinion regarding the above-mentioned issues of paternity, I have

reviewed and based my opinion on the following laws (attached as Exhibit “B”), codified in:

a. Family Code, Title III, “As to Paternity and Filiation”1 b. Responsible Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity and2 c. Regulation Reforming the Law of the National Registry of Persons.3 9. My opinions in this case are based as much on my review and analysis of these materials

as my experience handling cases of family law in Honduras. Legal Articles Related to Paternity 10. Various articles of the Civil Code of 1906 have been specifically reformed. The most

important reforms are those of various intrinsic institutions that are contained within the code. The institution of marriage and the family is reconsidered in 1984 in the Family Code by Decree Number 76-84. With respect to marriage, capacity, aptitude, duties and rights are addressed together with an increase in the grounds for divorce. At the same time, common-law marriage as another organizational concept, family guarantee, paternity, and proof of challenge to the same are considered. Finally, parentage and filiation are addressed by establishing that all children are equal before the law and that there is no difference between legitimate children or natural children according to the Constitution of the Republic in force since 1982 and its reforms, in Article 114 of the same, providing that there is no restriction on the nature of filiation.

11. For minors born after 1984, paternity is governed by the Family Code (Title III), the

Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity (2013) and Regulation Reforming RNP (2015).

Cases of Marriage or Common-Law Marriage 12. Pursuant to Article 102 of the Family Code, registering a child’s birth in the state’s civil

Registry by only one parent shall be legally valid with respect to both parents if there is a

1 Decree No. 76-84 of August 16, 1984, Family Code, Title III, Arts. 99-118. 2 Decree No. 92-2013 of November 8, 2013, Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity, Chapter II, Arts. 6-21. 3 Agreement No. 055-#-2015 of May 12, 2015, Regulation Reforming the Law of the National Registry of Persons (“Reforma Reglamento RNP”), Chapter III, Arts. 65-71 and Chapter IV, Arts. 121-133.


civil marriage or a legally recognized common-law marriage. Article 104 provides that filiation of children shall be recorded in the book of births of the appropriate Civil Registry.

13. Pursuant to Article 107 of the Family Code, the following shall be presumed children of a

married couple: 1) children born during the life of the marriage; and 2) children born during the three-hundred days following the date of the dissolution of the marital bond, if the mother has not married again.

Other Cases of Presumed Paternity 14. Pursuant to Article 106 of the Family Code, investigation of paternity is authorized as the

proper procedure to identify and determine the identity of the father, the mother or both, with respect to the person of a specific child; and the right to request the investigation of paternity belongs to the child and his/her descendants, as well as the father or mother who acknowledge the child. This is an imprescriptible right pursuant to the law, and the judgment establishing paternity must be recorded by the Civil Registrar.

15. Pursuant to Article 108 of the Family Code, paternity is presumed when it can be inferred

from the father’s statement, provided in a document of proven authenticity, 1) in cases of a conviction of rape, statutory rape or kidnapping when the date of the punishable act corresponds to the timeframe of conception; and, 2) when there has been open and known recognition of the status of the child as demonstrated through personal and social treatment of the mother during the pregnancy and delivery and proven by verifiable acts. Article 109 provides that open and known recognition of the status of the child consists of the parents treating the child as such, giving or allowing the child to use their surnames, providing him/her assistance, education and maintenance in a dutiful manner and presenting the child as such to society and that society has judged and acknowledged the child as a child of the parents during a period of time no less than one year.

Acknowledgment of Paternity 16. Article 6 of the Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity establishes

Voluntary Acknowledgment, providing that paternity and maternity are automatically acknowledged from the time that a person is registered in the civil registry or with the appropriate consular agent. The registration can be carried out by both parents or failing that by only one parent when there is evidence that the parent is authorized to represent the other. The registration can also be carried out by one parent without the need for any authorization when the parents are married or in a duly recognized common-law marriage.

17. Additionally, Article 110 of the Family Code provides that all children born out of

wedlock or a common-law marriage can be acknowledged by their parents. This acknowledgment can be carried out by recording the pertinent birth certificate in the Civil Registry, through a Public Document or through a testamentary act.


Acknowledgments in Special Cases 18. Pursuant to Articles 7 and 8 of the Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and

Paternity, a mother can, immediately following the birth of her child, register the birth attributing paternity to a presumed father. The registration shall be provisional in character, and will be validated or rejected pursuant to the Law and through a legal procedure. In such cases, the mother must state, in addition to the name of the person to whom she is attributing paternity, the location or locations where such person can be served and summoned in order to accept or reject paternity. Once the presumed father has received proper notice, he must formally contest paternity within one year of the date of receipt of notice. If the presumed father does not contest paternity within the one year period, his paternity is established. If the presumed father cannot be properly served with notice within one year, his name shall be deleted from the birth certificate.4

19. When a registration is carried out by persons other than the parents as allowed by law,

such persons shall record the names of the parents; this registration, if it was made due to error or fraud, can be annulled by the consumer tax return of both parents with the requirement that they appear before the appropriate civil officer, or through a suit brought before the court with jurisdiction as provided for in the above-mentioned Article 7.

Proof of Paternity 20. Article 112 of the Family Code5 provides that paternity (and/or maternity) is proven by

the registration or certification of the birth certificate or by an acknowledgment recorded by the Civil Registrar. Article 1136 provides that, if paternity (and/or maternity) is established as a result of an action to investigate or forced acknowledgment, the relevant judgment must be recorded by the Civil Registrar, placing the pertinent annotation at the margin of the record of the Birth Certificate of the child in whoever’s favor the judgment was rendered.

21. Article 68 of the Regulation Reforming RNP also states that the statement made by either

parent before the Civil Registrar, requesting that the birth of their child be registered is an acknowledgment of paternity or maternity, as the case may be.

22. Pursuant to Articles 126 and 128 of the Regulation Reforming RNP, in order to register a

birth, one or both parents must present their identity card in order to register their name on the birth certificate.7 Registrations must also include the Proof of Birth from the physician, nurse, or midwife who attended or verified the birth.8

4 Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity, Art. 7. 5 Modified by Decree 211-2006 dated January 22, 2007 containing the Code of Civil Procedure, published in Gazette No. 31313 dated May 26, 2007. 6 Modified by Decree 211-2006 dated January 22, 2007, containing the Code of Civil Procedure, published in Gazette No. 31313 dated May 26, 2007. 7 Regulation Reforming RNP, Art. 126. 8 Id.


23. If the parties are married and the mother registers the birth, paternity is presumed.9 24. Pursuant to Article 10 of the Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity, if

the mother is unsure as to the paternity of her child, she must state this status at the time of registration, which shall be provisional in character with only the last names of the mother and the rules established by this Law regarding forced acknowledgment10 shall be followed, requesting that presumed fathers be tested scientifically.

25. Pursuant to Article 12, also of the Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity,

the fraudulent false statement of the mother attributing paternity having been verified, a fine shall be imposed on her ranging from ten to twenty minimum salaries at their highest amount. This penalty shall be imposed by the Family Judge having jurisdiction without prejudice to the civil or criminal liability that may be provided for by Law. For this purpose, the civil registrar or consular agent shall inform the mother of the consequences of her declaration of paternity, the provisionality of the registration, when applicable, as well as the consequences that her statement can result in with regard to civil and criminal liability.

Contesting Paternity 26. Pursuant to Article 114 of the Family Code, the birth registration of a child can be

contested by the spouse who was not present at the registration, and can be based only on the premise that it was impossible for the spouses to have procreated the child. The suit to contest paternity (or maternity) must be filed within the first year, beginning on the date of birth of the presumed child or on the date that the interested party was notified of the birth, pursuant to Article 115.11

27. Article 117 establishes that a person who deems it their right to register a child, who has

been previously acknowledged by another person, as their own because they consider themselves the child’s true progenitor can pursue an action to establish their parentage at any time.

Conclusion 28. Based on the above-mentioned articles, in Honduras the paternity of a minor born out of

wedlock or a common-law marriage is deemed an Acknowledgment in Special Cases, pursuant to Articles 7 and 8 of the Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity.

9 Family Code, Art. 102; see also, Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity, Art. 6 (also providing that if the parents are in a duly recognized common-law marriage, in accordance with applicable law, a legal presumption of paternity also arises). The Family Code addresses common-law marriages in Title II Chapter V. 10 Forced acknowledgment of paternity or maternity shall occur when: 1) there is no information regarding the identity of one or both parents in the Civil Registry; 2) paternity is rejected in the case of a provisional registration to which this law refers; or 3) the investigation of existing registrations is intended. Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity, Art. 15. 11 Modified by Decree 211-2006 dated January 22, 2007, containing the Civil Procedure Code, published in Gazette No. 31313 dated May 26, 2007.


29. In cases involving a minor born to married parents or parents in a common-law marriage,

paternity is deemed a Voluntary Acknowledgment, pursuant to Article 6 of the Special Law for a Responsible Maternity and Paternity, and this acknowledgment can be carried out by one or both parents when there is evidence of sufficient basis for it and it is proven in the civil registrar or before the appropriate consular agent.

30. Based on the afore-mentioned articles, and pursuant to Article 99 of the Family Code and

Article 114 of the Constitution of the Republic, it is established that all children are equal before the law, possessing the same rights and duties.

I verify that the statements made in this opinion are true and correct.” HAVING NO MORE TO SAY, THE DECLARANT SIGNS. Signed this 28th day of April, 2020 in the City of San Pedro Sula, Department of Cortes, Republic of Honduras, Central America. [signature] [date] ____________________________ ____________________ Dora Isabel Melara Aguilar Date Attorney SIGNATURE/SEAL OF THE NOTARY: [stamp] ______________________________ [signature]

EXHIBIT A

EDUCATION University : Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras del Valle de Sula Honduras del Valle de Sula (U.N.A.H.-VS) Degree : Attorney Bar Number : 16428

COURSES ATTENDED Certificate in Employment Law Honduras Bar Association Certificate in Civil Procedure Law Honduras Bar Association Certificate in Constitutional Law Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras del Valle de Sula Certificate in Family Law Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras del Valle de Sula Workshop on National and International Refugees Center of Investigation and Promotion of Human Rights (CIPRODEH) Workshop on current Legislation and Legal proceedings of Investigation of Cases of Commercial Sexual Exploitation Special Prosecutor for Childhood Seminar on the Detection of Fraudulent Documents Department of Security of the United States of North America Seminars on Obligations and Contracts Honduran Group of Investigation and Social Development Training of the Network of Global Advocates on labor exploitation in the United States Global Workers Justice Alliance Training on the Traffic and trade of Persons (ACNUR) Training on the internally displaced and asylum seekers Norwegian Council and ACNUR Workshop on procedures for asylum seekers ACNUR Workshop on migration, causes and effects National Commission on Human Rights (CONADEH)

WORK EXPERIENCE

General Directorate for Migration and Foreigners Migration Inspector Ramon Villeda Morales Airport Screening of passengers pursuant to the migration and foreigners law, departure of minors, custodies. Migration Inspector Delegation of Puerto Cortes Enforcement of maritime passenger registries and land inspections. Chief of Migration Inspectors Passport Section San Pedro Sula Enforcement of laws and procedures for residencies, special permits, custodies, work permits for foreigners, passports. Deputy Delegate of Migration Delegation of Tela, Atlántida Enforcement of migration laws in maritime and land areas. Legal Counsel for the Center for Assistance to the Returning Migrant Assistance for people over the age of 18 deported from the United States. Supervisor of Migration for the Belen Center for Assistance Assistance for minors and family goups returning from the United States and Mexico. Independent attorney in the Melara Gomez Law Firm Currently member of the Justice in Motion network for migrants.

PERSONAL REFERENCES Atty. Eva Dorila Avila Tel. (504) 3336-7684 Sr. Valdete Wileman Tel. (593) 99 703-5613

EXHIBIT B

Judicial Branch Honduras

ELECTRONIC CENTER FOR JUDICIAL DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION

Title III As to Paternity and Filiation

Chapter I

As to Paternity Article 99. All children are equal before the Law, possessing the same rights and obligations. No restrictions are recognized as to the nature of filiation. No statement regarding the circumstances of a child’s birth nor the marital status of the parents shall be recorded in any registry or document relating to filiation. Article 100. Poor parents, with (5) five or more minor children, shall receive special protection from the State through social assistance and security programs created for this purpose. The parents to whom this Article refers shall have preference in employment for public office, all other circumstances being equal. Article 101. Upon the acknowledgment or statement of paternity, a child legally forms part of the family of his/her parents for all the purposes provided for in this Code.

Chapter II As to Registration

Article 102. The registration of birth of a child carried out in the civil Registry by only one parent shall be legally valid with respect to both parents if there is a civil marriage or a legally recognized common-law marriage. Article 103. Acknowledgment of a child that is an adult requires his/her consent in a notarized Public Document. Article 104. Filiation of children shall be documented in the book of birth registrations of the appropriate Civil Registry. The certification of the registration record issued in accordance with legal formalities constitutes proof of birth; likewise when filiation is acknowledged or declared in a notarized document, Public Document or legal judgment and an annotation is made by the appropriate Civil Registrar. Article 105. For registrations of birth that are carried out without the statements of the parents, the persons who in accordance with the Law register the births must record the name of the parents, without this being proof of filiation.



Chapter III as to the Investigation and Presumption of Paternity.

Acknowledgment Article 106. The investigation of paternity is authorized as the proper procedure to identify and determine the identity of the father, the mother or both with respect to the person of a specific child. The right to request the investigation of paternity belongs to the child and his/her descendants, as well as the father or mother who acknowledge the child. This is an imprescriptible right. The judgment establishing paternity must be recorded by the Civil Registrar. Article 107. It shall be presumed that the following are children of a married couple: 1) Children born during the life of the marriage; and 2) Children born within three hundred (300) days following the date of the dissolution of the

marital bond, if the mother has not married again; and 3) The presumptions established in this Article shall be construed to have no effect on the

provisions of Article 21 number 2. Article 108. Paternity is presumed: When it can be inferred from the statement of the father provided in a document of proven authenticity; 1) In cases of a conviction of rape, statutory rape or kidnapping when the date of the punishable

act corresponds to the timeframe of conception; and 2) When there has been open and known recognition of the status of the child as

demonstrated through personal and social treatment of the mother during the pregnancy and delivery and proven by verifiable acts.

Article 109. Open and known recognition of the status of the child consists of the parents treating the child as such, giving or allowing the child to use their surnames, providing him/her assistance, education and maintenance in a dutiful manner and presenting the child as such to society and that society has judged and acknowledged the child as a child of the parents during a period of time no less than one (1) year. Article 110. All children born out of wedlock or a common-law marriage can be acknowledged by their parents. This acknowledgment can be carried out by: Recording the pertinent birth certificate in the Civil Registry; through a Public Document or through a testamentary act.



Article 111. An unborn child can be acknowledged through a statement in a Public Notarial Instrument, but this instrument shall only take effect after the birth of the child and once recorded in the Civil Registry. Likewise, a deceased child can be acknowledged.

Chapter IV As to Proof of Paternity and Maternity

Article 1128. Paternity and/or maternity are proven by the registration or certification of the birth certificate or by an acknowledgment recorded by the Civil Registrar. Article 1139. If paternity and/or maternity is established through an action to investigate or through forced acknowledgment, the relevant judgment must be recorded by the Civil Registrar, placing the pertinent annotation at the margin of the record of the child’s Birth Certificate in whoever’s favor the judgment was rendered.

Chapter V As to Contest

Article 114. The registration of birth of a child, carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 102, can be contested by the spouse who was not present at the registration. The contest can be based only on the premise that it was impossible for the spouses to have procreated the child. Article 11510. The suit to contest paternity and/or maternity must be filed within the first year, beginning on the date of birth of the presumed child or on the date that the interested party was notified of the birth. The heirs of a person against whom paternity and/or maternity is presumed can also file a suit to contest if the person dies before the end of the term within which paternity can be repudiated and as long as the suit is filed in the days remaining before the term expires. Article 116. A child acknowledged while he/she is a minor shall only be able to contest the acknowledgment within the year following the date upon which he/she reaches adulthood. ___________________________ 8 Article 112. Modified pursuant to Decree 211-2006 dated January 22, 2007, containing the Code of Civil Procedure, Published in La Gaceta No. 31313 dated May 26, 2007. 9 Article 113. Modified pursuant to Decree 211-2006 dated January 22, 2007, containing the Code of Civil Procedure, Published in La Gaceta No. 31313 dated May 26, 2007. 10 Article 115. Modified pursuant to Decree 211-2006 dated January 22, 2007, containing the Code of Civil Procedure, Published in La Gaceta # 31313 dated May 26, 2007.



Article 117. A person who deems it their right to register a child, who has been previously acknowledged by another person, as their own because they consider themselves the child’s true progenitor can pursue an action to establish their parentage at any time. Article 11811. In proceedings to investigate or contest paternity and/or maternity, evidence of blood types, genetic markers and any other method of exclusion or confirmation of paternity and/or maternity that may be developed in the future is admissible. The afore-mentioned studies and opinions must be carried out by Microbiologists with a specialty in Molecular Biology or by Physicians with adequate training in Immunohematology. ____________________________________ 11 Article 118. Modified pursuant to Decree 211-2006 dated January 22, 2007, containing the Code of Civil Procedure, Published in La Gaceta # 31313 dated May 26, 2007.

Section A Agreements and Laws La Gaceta REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS - TEGUCIGALPA, M.D.C., NOVEMBER 8, 2013 No. 33,273

CHAPTER II ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PATERNITY AND MATERNITY

SECTION I

VOLUNTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT ARTICLE 6.- VOLUNTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Paternity and maternity are automatically acknowledged from the time that a person is registered in the civil registry or with the appropriate consular agent. The registration can be carried out by both parents or failing that, by only one parent when there is evidence that the parent is authorized to represent the other. The registration can also be carried out by one parent without the need for any authorization when the parents are married or in a duly recognized common-law marriage, in accordance with the Family Code, the Law of the National Registry of Persons and other applicable laws. ARTICLE 7.- ACKNOWLEDGMENT IN SPECIAL CASES. Registrations not carried out within the framework of a Marriage or duly recognized Common-Law Marriage are valid when: 1) They are carried out solely by the mother immediately after the birth, attributing paternity to a

presumed father; and 2) When carried out by persons other than the parents in accordance with the Law, who must record the

name of the parents. In the case of number 1), the registration shall be provisional in character, and shall be validated or rejected in accordance with the requirements and procedures established by this Law. In the case of number 2), the registration, if it was made due to error or with fraud, can be annulled by the consumer tax return of both parents with the requirement that they appear before the appropriate Civil Officer, or through a suit brought before the court with jurisdiction in all other cases. ARTICLE 8.- PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION AND ITS FORMALIZATION. In the case of a provisional registration as described in the preceding Article, the mother must state, in addition to the name of the person to whom she is attributing paternity, the location or locations where such person can be served and summoned in order to accept or reject paternity. The registration shall become final if it is accepted by the person to whom paternity is attributed, or if said person fails to appear and exercise his right to challenge within a period of one (1) year from the date of service. ARTICLE 9.- SPECIAL RULES REGARDING SERVICE. When the mother claims not to know where the presumed father or his legal representative can be located for purposes of service, this circumstance shall be noted and there shall be a period of one (1) year to provide the pertinent information. Once this period of time has expired, the attribution of paternity shall be nullified and the Civil Registrar shall of his/her own accord (by right of office) execute the pertinent deletion, leaving the child with only the last names of his/her mother.


When the mother provides the information necessary for service, but the presumed father is not located, the service must be directed to his legal representative or, failing this, his closest relative or relatives. If they admit knowledge of the matter, they shall accept or reject service. If the representative or relative claim to have no knowledge of the matter or to have reasonable doubt as to whether the presumed father is the father, the Judge shall order a scientific test. The same procedure shall be followed if the presumed father has died without making a statement as to the matter, and the service can be issued to his heirs or pertinent beneficiaries. The provisions of this Article shall be construed to have no effect on the procedure for an investigation of paternity. ARTICLE 10.- REGISTRATION WHEN THE MOTHER HAS DOUBT AS TO PATERNITY. If the mother is unsure as to the paternity of her child, she must state this status at the time of registration, which shall be provisional in character with only the last names of the mother and the rules established by this Law regarding forced acknowledgment shall be followed, requesting that presumed fathers be tested scientifically. ARTICLE 11.- SPECIAL REGISTRY WINDOWS AND MOBILE REGISTRIES. The authorities of the National Registry of Persons (RNP), in coordination with the network of hospital services of the Office of Health in the Secretary of State, shall maintain special windows for registration in the main public and private hospitals of the country. Likewise special mechanisms and strategies shall be implemented to guarantee the immediate registration of all children born in other centers or components of the system. The mobile Civil Registries shall coordinate their efforts with the authorities of the Secretaries of State in the Departments of Health, Education and other relevant public and private institutions, with an emphasis on locations that are remote or do not have health or registry coverage. ARTICLE 12.- FALSE STATEMENTS. The fraudulent false statement of the mother attributing paternity having been verified, a fine shall be imposed on her ranging from ten (10) to twenty (20) minimum salaries at their highest amount. This penalty shall be imposed by the Family Judge having jurisdiction without prejudice to the civil and criminal responsibility that may be provided for by Law. For this purpose, the Civil Registrar or Consular Agent shall inform the mother of the consequences of the statement of paternity, the provisionality of the registration, when applicable, as well as the consequences that her statement can result in with regard to civil and criminal liability.

SECTION II FORCED ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PATERNITY OR MATERNITY

ARTICLE 13.- JURISDICTION. The Family Judge with jurisdiction is required to have knowledge of the legal procedures in the areas of responsible Maternity and Paternity, which will be followed in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure, without prejudice to the provisions of this Law.


ARTICLE 14.- REPRESENTATION OF ORPHANED OR DISABLED MINORS. The claims to determine or challenge the filiation belonging to minors, male or female orphans or with a disability and in analogous cases, can be pursued by their legal representative or the Public Ministry. The right of action referenced in this Law is imprescriptible. ARTICLE 15.- FORCED ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Forced acknowledgment of paternity or maternity shall be appropriate when: 1) There is no information in the Civil Registry regarding the identity of one or both parents; 2) A provisional registration referenced in this Law is rejected; or, 3) The investigation of completed registrations is intended. ARTICLE 16.- SCIENTIFIC TEST AND ITS PROBATIVE VALUE. The full legal and indisputable value of the scientific test is acknowledged in determining with certainty the consanguineous bond between ancestors and descendants and specifying the rights and duties this gives rise to, particularly between parents and children. This test is equally admissible in the case of a deceased father. The results shall constitute full proof at trial. ARTICLE 17.- NEW TEST. Whoever is not satisfied with the results of the scientific test, shall have the right to request the performance of a new test, which will be performed in the laboratories of the Public Ministry. ARTICLE 18.- PREFERENCE OF THE SCIENTIFIC TEST. The scientific test will have preference over any other form of evidence with the exception of a confession, when this entails the acknowledgment of paternity or maternity of the case. ARTICLE 19.- MANDATORY TEST. The scientific test can only be ordered in a mandatory or forced form by a judicial order. The Judge can deny performance of the test if he/she deems it a conflict with the Best Interests of the Child, the well-being of the family and the claims of the petitioner for said test. The Law provides remedies to appeal this judgment. In all cases the mother is exempt from mandatory testing when she is pregnant as a result of rape, statutory rape, kidnapping or any form of sexual abuse, when there is a conviction and it serves as justification, at the Judge’s discretion, for the test not to be performed. ARTICLE 20.- LABORATORIES. The scientific test can only be performed in the laboratories of the Public Ministry or in those that are duly certified by the same. For this purpose, the Public Ministry will establish a protocol for both the periodic certification of the laboratories and the performance of the tests. To this end, said laboratories are required to permit inspections by this public entity.


ARTICLE 21.- EXTRACTION OF SAMPLES. The extraction of samples for the scientific test is declared to be in the public interest, with the use of the samples for any other purpose prohibited under criminal penalty for the offender. The chain of custody beginning with the extraction of the samples through the results is the full responsibility of the Public Ministry and the private laboratories that it certifies. The performance of these tests shall only proceed if mandated by court order.

Section A Agreements and Laws La Gaceta REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS - TEGUCIGALPA, M.D.C., MAY 12, 2015 NO. 33,727 Article 65.- When during the registration of birth of the registered person only the maternal last name appears, the Civil Registrar cannot generate any other last name, except for the second last name of the mother if she has one, subject to the decision of the Civil Officer. Article 66.- When during the registration of the birth, the mother of the registered person appears only with the maternal last name, the Civil Registrar can only assign that last name to the registered person, even when the maternal grandparents appear during the registration of the child. Article 67.- When only the first name of the mother of the registered person appears in the body of a registration, no last name shall be recorded even when the maternal grandparents appear during the registration. In this case the Civil Registrar shall certify the registration verbatim and advise the interested party to appear before the Civil Officer to request a correction such that the last names are added to the pertinent birth registration. Article 68.- The statement made by either parent before the Civil Registrar, requesting the registration of the birth of their child, is an acknowledgment of paternity or maternity, as the case may be. If the name of the parents of the registered person does not appear in the registration, this shall be certified as it appears in the body of the registration, in which case the interested party can proceed as follows: 1. If the registered person was born during a marriage or a duly recognized common-law marriage,

either one of his/her parents or the interested party himself/herself if he/she is of legal age, can appear before the Civil Officer to request that the name and last names of the father or mother be added to the birth registration.

2. If the registered person was born out of wedlock or a common-law marriage and was only acknowledged by his/her father or his/her mother, whoever has not acknowledged him/her can proceed to do so legally.

3. If at the time of registration of birth the status under which the appearing party was acting was omitted and the appearing party was either the mother or the father, the Civil Officer can add said status if it can be inferred from the information contained in the registration, evaluating the merits of the evidence, provided that the following circumstances apply:

a. The last names generated in the heading match those of the appearing party; b. The information of the maternal or paternal grandparents appears, as the case may be; c. The signature, fingerprint or failing that, the caption stating that “the appearing party does not sign because he/she cannot read or write” appears on the registration. The preceding provisions do not repudiate or restrict the rights that legally belong to unacknowledged children. Article 69.- All persons have the right to use the names and last names with which they have been identified in their respective birth registration. All of the above is without prejudice to the provisions of Article 125 of the Law of RNP, and the rights acquired under the protection of resolutions issued by the National Tribunal of Elections.

Section A Agreements and Laws La Gaceta REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS - TEGUCIGALPA, M.D.C., MAY 12, 2015 NO. 33,727 Article 70.- The letters of a name may be modified only by a decision of the Civil Officer and at the request of the party, as long as this does not entail substantial changes phonetically; or in the cases of names in a foreign language with difficult spelling. Or that were obviously generated by errors of the Registrar, when so recorded in documents in the possession of the National Registry of Persons. Article 71.- At the request of the party, the Civil Officer can authorize a name change, as long as the information contained in the documents in the registration and identification records, both physical and digital, provides evidence of error or omission attributable to the Registry, the Municipal Clerks, or the declarant at the time of registration, and in the following cases: a. In the case provided for in the preceding article of this Regulation. b. In the case of a duplicate registration, subject to a decision by Department of Civil Registry and the Department of Legal Counsel in their order; attaching the requirements of the Law and the criminal record when relevant. c. In those cases in which the names run counter to morality and decency, that cause the child psychological injury. Subject to an opinion from Forensic Medicine

CHAPTER IV SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATIONS

SECTION I

REGISTRATIONS OF BIRTHS Article 121.- The registration of birth must be carried out within one year of the date of birth. Article 122.- The following are required to request a registration of birth in the Civil Registry within the afore-mentioned time period: a) The mother or father in person or through their legal representative. b) The legal representatives. c) Relatives that live in the same residence. d) Other people that attended the birth. e) People authorized to represent the healthcare institution with custody. f) The judge with jurisdiction who is aware of the societal risk to the minor who is not registered. g) The Deputy Mayor, in the case of Article 58 of the Law. Article 123.- The statement made before the Civil Registrar for the purpose of registering a minor is presumed to have been made under oath unless there is evidence to the contrary. Without evidence to the contrary, it is presumed that whoever requests the registration is authorized to assign a name to the registered person. Article 124.- If at the time of registration a discrepancy arises between the name that appears on the proof of birth and the express wish of the father or mother, the name assigned by either of the parents shall prevail. Article 125.- The registration of birth must only be carried out once, in any Civil Registry office, recording the place, municipality and department of birth.

Section A Agreements and Laws La Gaceta REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS - TEGUCIGALPA, M.D.C., MAY 12, 2015 NO. 33,727 Article 126.- The doctor, nurse or midwife that attended or verified the birth that took place in a public or private health facility or in a private house, must issue and deliver to the mother or interested party the Proof of Birth that proves the event transpired. When the birth was not attended or verified by a doctor, nurse or midwife, the Deputy Mayor is obliged to inform the Civil Registry of his/her jurisdiction as to the event; for this purpose he/she shall proceed to obtain the information and documentation necessary to be delivered to the Civil Registrar such that the registration can take place. Article 127.- The proof of birth is the form officially approved by the National Registry of Persons, serves as a supporting document for the registration, must be filed in chronological order, and must include a reference to the volume number, page, certificate and year of registration in the Civil Registry. This document shall also have a statistical report of the birth, whose content shall be regulated by the National Institute of Statistics. It is mandatory that the employees of the Municipal Civil Registry chronologically file said proofs of birth, detaching the statistical report in order for it to be sent to the appropriate Departmental or Sectional Civil Office, which shall in turn deliver it to the National Institute of Statistics pursuant to the procedure established in the relevant manual. Article 128.- The registration of birth shall be made at the request of the appearing party, presenting the following documents: 1) Proof of Birth issued by the doctor, nurse, midwife or deputy mayor. 2) Identity Card of the father or the mother or both who acknowledge the child. When the father or

mother are minors, they shall present the Minor’s Identification Card or certification of the birth certificate.

3) When the parents do not appear, the appearing party must present his/her Identity Card and that of the parents, in accordance with the provisions of article 55 of the RNP Law.

4) In cases in which the father or mother do not possess an Identity Card or a Minor’s Identification Card, they must present the password that said document is being processed together with a document with a photograph, and ultimately the respective certification of birth, in this last case it shall be noted that they shall proceed to request their Identity Card.

5) In cases in which the father, the mother or the appearing party are foreigners, they shall present a residency card, passport or identification document from their country.

Article 129.- When the father or mother that appear are not registered in the Civil Registry, they can register the birth of their child that took place in the national territory. This circumstance must be recorded in the amendments and annotations box. Article 130.- Paternity is presumed, unless there is evidence to the contrary, according to the provisions of the Law of a responsible maternity and paternity or by the fact of the mother of the minor stating or presenting the name or Identity Card of the person to whom paternity is attributed at the time of registration. The Civil Registrar must record this circumstance in the amendments and annotations box. Article 131.- Births not registered within the legal timeframe can be registered by means of an administrative process of Replacement by Omission requested before the appropriate Civil Officer, in accordance with the provisions of article 84 of the Law of the National Registry of Persons.

Section A Agreements and Laws La Gaceta REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS - TEGUCIGALPA, M.D.C., MAY 12, 2015 NO. 33,727 The replacement by omission must be registered in the Municipal Civil Registry that issued the proof of absence of registration, said proof shall be issued in the municipality where the birth took place. Article 132.- Births that take place abroad of persons with a Honduran mother or father shall be recorded in a special book kept for this purpose by the Diplomatic or Consular Agents. Diplomatic or Consular Agents must send a quarterly certification of said registration with the supporting documents, so that that Directorate of the RNP can order the registration in the Civil Registry of the Central District, if the parents have not designated another municipality. Article 133.- If the birth that took place abroad in the case of the preceding article was registered in the Civil Registry of the country where the birth took place, the interested parties or relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity as duly verified can at any time request authorization for inclusion before the Directorate of the RNP, designating the municipality in which they desire the inclusion to take effect, and attaching the duly legalized certification of birth registration and that of the father or mother in order to verify that they are Honduran. Said document shall be issued no later than thirty business days counted from the date that the request was submitted.