Court Addresses A Contested Paternity Case In Maryland

Paternity cases can become quite complicated when there are multiple men claiming to be the child’s father. This is especially true in Maryland, where the court does not have to rule solely on the basis of a paternity test. Instead, the court can consider additional factors and will always make a ruling based on the best interests of the child. In this article, we’ll discuss a real case involving contested paternity where multiple men were claiming to be the father. 

Background of the case 

In the aforementioned case, the biggest issue was the best interests of the child. There were several children involved in the case, and the biological parentage of the children was in question. Throughout the case, there were several different men who were potential biological fathers to the children. This led to a situation of contested paternity, as there were competing claims regarding the father of the child.

One of the potential fathers had an active role in the case. The other potential fathers did not. The question of biological parentage of the children led to a discussion of whether the court should order genetic testing to determine the biological parentage of the child. At the trial court level, the court declined to order DNA testing. Instead, the court decided to allow the status quo to remain in place with the question of paternity left undecided. The court felt that the stability of the children could be upset if a new father entered the mix. The court suggested that the question of paternity could be revised at a later time. 

The appeal 

One of the putative fathers decided to appeal the decision to not move forward with the paternity test. The appellant argued that it was important to know the biological paternity of the child and that such a decision should not be delayed by the court.

However, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals affirmed the decision made by the trial court. The appellate court noted that although genetic testing is important in determining whether a man is the biological father, it is not necessarily required in every case, especially those cases that might disrupt the status quo of the child.

The appellate court noted that Maryland law does not require a purely scientific decision in a paternity case. Maryland law allows a court to consider the context in which a case is being decided and to consider whether or not ordering a genetic test would be detrimental to the well-being of the children involved in the case. If a decision to order genetic testing would have a detrimental effect on a parental relationship and/or would cause confusion in the child’s life, the court can deny a request for a genetic test. 

Talk to a Bel Air, MD, Family Law Attorney Today 

Schlaich & Thompson, Chartered, represents the interests of Bel Air residents who are interested in establishing their paternity. Call our Bel Air family lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.

Source:

caselaw.findlaw.com/court/md-court-of-special-appeals/1685771.html