PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                                 Ch. 609

(f) Until a license is issued, a clerk may not disclose the fact that an application
for a license has been made except to the parent or guardian of a party to be married.

5-1002.

(a)     The General Assembly finds that:

(1)     this State has a duty to improve the deprived social and economic status
of children born out of wedlock; and

(2)     the policies and procedures in this subtitle are socially necessary and
desirable.

(b)     The purpose of this subtitle is:

(1)     to promote the general welfare and best interests of children born out of
wedlock by securing for them, as nearly as practicable, the same rights to support, care,
and education as children born in wedlock;

(2)     to impose on the mothers and fathers of children born out of wedlock
the basic obligations and responsibilities of parenthood; and

(3)     to simplify the procedures for determining paternity, custody,
guardianship, and responsibility for the support of children born out of wedlock.

(C) NOTHING IN THIS SUBTITLE IS INTENDED MAY BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT
THE RIGHT OF A PUTATIVE FATHER TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO ESTABLISH HIS
PATERNITY OF A CHILD.

5-1010.

(a)     A complaint need not be in any particular form.

(b)     The complaint shall be written in simple, nontechnical language.

(c)     The complaint shall state the facts on which the complaint is based.

[ (d) The complaint shall be accompanied by a notice to the alleged father that:

(1)     he has the right to a jury trial on the issue of paternity;

(2)     unless he elects to have a jury trial, the right to a jury trial is waived; and

(3)     if a jury trial is waived, the court may decide the issue of paternity.

(e) A failure to give the notice required by subsection (d) of this section does not
invalidate the paternity proceeding if:

(1)     the alleged father appears for trial; and

(2)     the court otherwise safeguards the alleged father's right to a jury trial.]

[(f)] (D) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a complaint filed
under this subtitle shall be supported by the oath of the mother or pregnant woman,
whether or not she is a party to the paternity proceeding.

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