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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-1403" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="14" subtitle_name="Child Conceived Without Consent">
  <level label="a">
    <text>An action for termination of parental rights under this subtitle may be filed by either parent of the child, the child’s court–appointed guardian, or the child’s court–appointed attorney.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An action for termination of parental rights filed by a parent under this subtitle shall be filed within 7 years after the later of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the date of the birth of the child conceived as a result of the nonconsensual sexual conduct; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the date on which the parent knew or should have known the other parent’s identity.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An action for termination of parental rights filed by a child’s court–appointed guardian or attorney under this subtitle shall be filed before the child becomes an adult.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>In an action for termination of parental rights filed against a respondent by a child’s court–appointed guardian or attorney under this subtitle:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the other parent shall be joined as a party to the action; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the action may not proceed if the other parent objects before the commencement of a trial under this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, when proof is made by affidavit that good faith efforts to serve the respondent have not succeeded or that the respondent has acted to evade service, the court may order any other means of service that the court considers appropriate under the circumstances and that is reasonably calculated to give actual notice of the proceeding to the respondent.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The court shall rule on any motion for alternative service under this subsection within 15 days after the filing of the motion.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The court may not require publication of the name or personally identifying information of the other parent or the child.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A scheduling conference shall be held within 60 days after service of the complaint.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>At the scheduling conference, the court:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>shall issue a scheduling order, taking into consideration the best interest of the child, the time needed for discovery, and the interest of justice;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>after providing the parents with an opportunity to be heard, may determine temporary custody of the minor child; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>shall advise the respondent that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the respondent may refuse to testify or to offer evidence; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>no adverse inference may be drawn from the respondent’s refusal to testify or to offer evidence.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Failure of the court to advise a respondent under paragraph (2)(iii) of this subsection is not grounds to overturn a finding under this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A complaint filed under this subtitle shall include a notice to the respondent that a scheduling conference will be held within 60 days after service of the complaint.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
