Ch. 609                                    1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(2)     the empaneling of a jury;

(3)     jury trial proceedings, including instructions to the jury;

(4)     motions for new trial;

(5)     judgment N.O.V.; and

(6)     matters that may be considered on appeal).

[(b) The only question for the jury in a trial under this subtitle is whether the
alleged father is the father of the child.]

(c) In a trial under this subtitle, no comment on or reference to an alleged
father's failure to testify may be made or permitted.

5-1028.1.

(a)     An unmarried father and mother shall be provided an opportunity to execute
an affidavit of parentage in the manner provided under § 4-208 of the Health - General
Article.

(b)     The affidavit shall be completed on a standardized form developed by the
Department.

(c)     (1) The' completed affidavit of parentage form shall contain:

[(1)](I) in ten point boldface type a statement that the affidavit is a legal
document and constitutes a rebuttable presumption of parentage in a paternity
proceeding LEGAL FINDING OF PATERNITY;

[(2)] (II) the full name and the place and date of birth of the child;

[(3)] (III) the full name of the attesting father of the child;

[(4)] (IV) the full name of the attesting mother of the child;

[(5)] (V) the signatures of the father and the mother of the child attesting,
under penalty of perjury, that the information provided on the affidavit is true and
correct;

[(6)] (VI) a statement by the mother consenting to the assertion of paternity
and acknowledging that her cosignatory is the only possible father;

[(7)] (VII) a statement by the father that he is the natural father of the child;
and

[(8)] (VIII) the Social Security numbers provided by each of the parents.

(2) BEFORE COMPLETING AN AFFIDAVIT OF PARENTAGE FORM, THE
UNMARRIED MOTHER AND THE FATHER SHALL BE ADVISED ORALLY AND IN
WRITING OF THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF EXECUTING THE AFFIDAVIT AND OF
THE BENEFIT OF SEEKING LEGAL COUNSEL.

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