Terms Used In Maryland Code, FAMILY LAW 5-1039

  • 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.
(a) If the court finds that the alleged father is not the father, the court may:

(1) retain jurisdiction; and

(2) on its own motion or otherwise, take any further proceeding that the court considers just and proper and in the best interests of the child.

(b) Under this section, the court may:

(1) enter an appropriate order against the mother for the support of the child;

(2) allow the impleader or joinder of any other alleged father; or

(3) consider any other matter that may be in the best interests of the child.