Legislation was tabled yesterday in the House of Assembly which allows children born outside of marriage and who have only one Bermudian parent to have Bermuda status.

Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Randolph Horton said the Act will allow children born out of wedlock to have Bermudian status, if they are 15 years old or under and are proven to be the child of the Bermudian parent.

He said the child also had to be a part of the family and has to be shown that the child was supported and maintained.

Mr. Horton cited the Children?s Amendment Act 2002 and said it removed any distinction between a child born within marriage or outside a marriage. An amendment also deleted the provisions that related to the test of child or parent relationship in the case of a child born outside of wedlock.