A. The purpose of this subarticle is to establish a procedure to aid in the determination of the paternity of an individual.

1. (1) A child;
2. (2) The natural mother of a child;
3. (3) Any person in whose care a child has been placed;
4. (4) An authorized agency, including, but not limited to, the Department of Social Services, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 5 of Title 43, and any other person or agency pursuant to the provisions of Sections 20-7-435 and 20-7-840; or

5. (5) A person who claims to be the father of a child.

   D. If an action is brought under this subarticle prior to the birth of a child, all proceedings must be stayed until after the birth of the child except the service of a summons and the taking of depositions or other discovery procedures.

   E. Whenever an action threatens to make a child illegitimate, the presumed legal father and the putative natural father must be made parties respondents to the action. A child under the age of eighteen years must be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court. Neither the mother nor the presumed or putative father of the child may represent him as guardian ad litem.

B. As used in this subarticle, "child" includes, but is not limited to, a person under the age of eighteen years.

C. An action to establish the paternity of an individual may be brought by: