US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

      (a)      "Natural father" of an individual means a man who:

            (1)      was married to the individual's natural mother at the time of conception;

            (2)      was married to the individual's natural mother at the time of the individual's birth;

            (3)      is named as the father on the individual's birth certificate, unless the man signs a denial of paternity or his nonpaternity has been established to the satisfaction of the court by affidavit or testimony;

            (4)      is identified by the natural mother as the father of the individual, unless the man signs a denial of paternity or his nonpaternity has been established to the satisfaction of the court by affidavit or testimony;

            (5)      has been adjudicated to be the father of the individual; or

            (6)      has acknowledged himself to be the father of the individual, orally or in writing, and the natural mother of the individual agrees that he is the individual's natural father.

      (b)      (1)      A petitioner under this subtitle shall notify the court if an individual who does not meet the criteria for being a natural father under this section claims to be the natural father.

            (2)      After receipt of notice under this subsection, the court shall hold a hearing on the issue of paternity.

** SPECIAL NOTE: EFFECTIVE - JANUARY 1, 2006 - CHAPTER 464 - 2005 **

      A party to a case under this subtitle may appeal to the Court of Special Appeals:

            (1)      in an interlocutory appeal, from a denial of the right to participate in a guardianship case before entry of an order for guardianship;

            (2)      in an interlocutory appeal, from a denial of the right to participate in an adoption case under Part III of this subtitle; or

            (3)      from a final order.