Ch. 609

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

[10-323.] 10-326.

(a)     Participation by a plaintiff in a proceeding before a responding tribunal,
whether in person, by private attorney, or through services provided by the support
enforcement agency, does not confer personal jurisdiction over the plaintiff in another
proceeding.

(b)     A plaintiff is not amenable to service of civil process while physically present
in this State to participate in a proceeding under this subtitle.

(c)     The immunity granted by this section does not extend to civil litigation based
on acts unrelated to a proceeding under this subtitle committed by a party while present
in this State to participate in the proceeding.

10-327. NONPARENTAGE AS DEFENSE.

A PARTY WHOSE PARENTAGE OF A CHILD HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY
DETERMINED BY OR PURSUANT TO LAW MAY NOT PLEAD NONPARENTAGE AS A
DEFENSE TO A PROCEEDING UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.

[10-324.] 10-328.

(a)     The physical presence of the plaintiff in a responding tribunal of this State is
not required for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order or
the rendition of a judgment determining parentage.

(b)     A verified complaint, affidavit, document substantially complying with
federally mandated forms, and a document incorporated by reference in any of them, not
excluded under the hearsay rule if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given under
oath by a party or witness residing in another state.

(c)     A copy of the record of child support payments certified as a true copy of the
original by the custodian of the record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal. The
copy is evidence of facts asserted in it, and is admissible to show whether payments were
made.

(d)     Copies of bills for testing for parentage, and for prenatal and postnatal health
care of the mother and child, furnished to the adverse party at least 10 days before trial,
are admissible in evidence to prove the amount of the charges billed and that the charges
were reasonable, necessary, and customary.

(E) DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE TRANSMITTED FROM ANOTHER STATE TO A
TRIBUNAL OF THIS STATE BY TELEPHONE, TELECOPIER, OR OTHER MEANS THAT DO
NOT PROVIDE AN ORIGINAL WRITING MAY NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM EVIDENCE ON
AN OBJECTION BASED ON THE MEANS OF TRANSMISSION UNLESS THE DOCUMENTARY
EVIDENCE IS SHOWN TO VARY IN A SUBSTANTIAL OR RELEVANT MANNER FROM THE
ORIGINAL.

[(e)] (F) In a proceeding under this subtitle, a tribunal of this State may permit a
party or witness residing in another state to be deposed or to testify by telephone,
audiovisual means, or other electronic means at a designated tribunal or other location in
that state. A tribunal of this State shall cooperate with tribunals of other states in
designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.

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