Terms Used In Maryland Code, COURTS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS 6-103.2

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • state: means :

    (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

    (2) the District of Columbia. See
A court may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant alleged to be the father in a paternity proceeding if:

(1) The mother resides in this State at the time the suit is filed;

(2) The nonresident alleged father personally has been served with process in accordance with the Maryland Rules; and

(3) The act of conception is alleged to have occurred in this State.