<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-1002" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="Paternity Proceedings">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The General Assembly finds that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>this State has a duty to improve the deprived social and economic status of children born out of wedlock; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the policies and procedures in this subtitle are socially necessary and desirable.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The purpose of this subtitle is:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>to promote the general welfare and best interests of children born out of wedlock by securing for them, as nearly as practicable, the same rights to support, care, and education as children born in wedlock;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>to impose on the mothers and fathers of children born out of wedlock the basic obligations and responsibilities of parenthood; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>to simplify the procedures for determining paternity, custody, guardianship, and responsibility for the support of children born out of wedlock.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Nothing in this subtitle may be construed to limit the right of a putative father to file a complaint to establish his paternity of a child.</text>
  </level>
</section>
