bastardy proceeding

NOUN
19 LETTERS · STARTS WITH B

bastardy proceeding is a valid 19-letter word worth 30 points in Scrabble and 34 points in Words with Friends.

SCRABBLE WORDS WITH FRIENDS
B3A1S1T1A1R1D2Y4P3R1O1C3E1E1D2I1N1G2
3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 4 + 0 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 =30 PTS
DOUBLE WORD → 60TRIPLE WORD → 90
MEANING

What does bastardy proceeding mean?

NOUN · 1 SENSE
1

A lawsuit filed to determine the father of a child born out of wedlock (and to provide for the support of the child once paternity is determined).