In re Biehl (Kansas 2018)

A paternity order may not be final for appellate purposes if it doesn’t address child support and other matters incident to the paternity establishment. The mother in this case appealed the denial of her motion to set aside a journal entry to paternity. The appellate court found it had no jurisdiction to hear the appeal because the paternity order was not a final decision. The order left custody, parenting time, child support, and the tax exemption for a future date. Kansas law sets out several issues that must be addressed in a paternity action such as support and payment of birth costs. Therefore, the order was not final and not ripe for appellate review.