French Civil Code
In forceWhere there are serious indications, based where applicable on the civil registrar's hearing of the person who acknowledged the child, that the acknowledgement is fraudulent, the civil registrar shall immediately refer the matter to the public prosecutor and inform the person who acknowledged the child.
The public prosecutor must decide, within fifteen days of the matter being referred to him or her, either to allow the civil registrar to register the acknowledgement or to mention it in the margin of the birth record, or that it be suspended pending the results of the investigation he or she is conducting, or to oppose it.
The duration of the suspension thus decided may not exceed one month, renewable once by specially reasoned decision. However, when the investigation is conducted, in whole or in part, abroad by the diplomatic or consular authority, the duration of the stay is extended to two months, renewable once by specially reasoned decision. In all cases, the civil registrar and the person who made the acknowledgement are notified of the decision to suspend and its renewal.
On expiry of the suspension, the public prosecutor informs the civil registrar and the interested parties, in a reasoned decision, whether he or she will allow the acknowledgement to be registered or mentioned in the margin of the child's birth certificate.
The author of the acknowledgement, even if he or she is a minor, may contest the decision to suspend or renew it before the judicial court, which will rule within ten days of the case being referred to it. In the event of an appeal, the court will rule within the same timeframe.
