Pretrial hearing; testimony.
1. The court shall endeavor to resolve the issues raised in an action pursuant to this chapter by an informal hearing.
2. As soon as practicable after an action to declare the existence or nonexistence of the father and child relationship has been brought, an informal hearing must be held. The court may order that the hearing be held before a master or referee. The public shall be barred from the hearing. A record of the proceeding or any portion thereof must be kept if any party requests or the court orders. Strict rules of evidence need not be observed, but those prescribed in NRS 233B.123 apply.
3. Upon refusal of any witness, including a party, to testify under oath or produce evidence, the court may order him to testify under oath and produce evidence concerning all relevant facts. If the refusal is upon the ground that his testimony or evidence might tend to incriminate him, the court may grant him immunity from prosecution for all criminal offenses shown in whole or in part by testimony or evidence he is required to produce, except for perjury committed in his testimony. The refusal of a witness who has been granted immunity to obey an order to testify or produce evidence is a civil contempt of the court.
4. Testimony of a physician concerning the medical circumstances of the pregnancy and the condition and characteristics of the child upon birth is not privileged.
Last modified: February 25, 2006