Maryland Code
Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law § 5-1019 (2026)
§ 5-1019
✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
MD-GAmgaleg.maryland.gov
Justiaon Justia
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
§5–1019.
(a) This section applies only to jurisdictions in which the Administration is represented by a State’s Attorney.
(b) Before or after a complaint is filed under this subtitle, the State’s Attorney may hold a pretrial inquiry.
(c) In connection with any pretrial inquiry under this section, the State’s Attorney may:
(1) issue a summons that requires a person, other than the alleged father, to appear, to testify, and to produce documents connected with the examination;
(2) administer oaths;
(3) examine witnesses; and
(4) receive evidence.
(d) (1) If a person fails to obey a summons, or fails to testify or comply with a request of the State’s Attorney, the State’s Attorney may request the circuit court for the county to order the person:
(i) to obey the summons;
(ii) to testify; or
(iii) to produce any document that the court considers necessary for the inquiry.
(2) If a person fails or refuses to obey the order of court after the order has been served, the person is in contempt of court and the court may punish the person for the contempt.
(3) A finding of contempt under this subsection is subject to appeal.
(a) This section applies only to jurisdictions in which the Administration is represented by a State’s Attorney.
(b) Before or after a complaint is filed under this subtitle, the State’s Attorney may hold a pretrial inquiry.
(c) In connection with any pretrial inquiry under this section, the State’s Attorney may:
(1) issue a summons that requires a person, other than the alleged father, to appear, to testify, and to produce documents connected with the examination;
(2) administer oaths;
(3) examine witnesses; and
(4) receive evidence.
(d) (1) If a person fails to obey a summons, or fails to testify or comply with a request of the State’s Attorney, the State’s Attorney may request the circuit court for the county to order the person:
(i) to obey the summons;
(ii) to testify; or
(iii) to produce any document that the court considers necessary for the inquiry.
(2) If a person fails or refuses to obey the order of court after the order has been served, the person is in contempt of court and the court may punish the person for the contempt.
(3) A finding of contempt under this subsection is subject to appeal.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2
cases, 1988–1999 · leading case: Gill v. Ripley, 724 A.2d 88 (Md. 1999).
Gill v. Ripley, 724 A.2d 88 (Md. 1999). “Maryland Code (1957), Article 12, §§ 5, 6, and 7; current § 5-1019 of the Family Law Article. Notwithstanding the involvement of the State’s Attorneys as prosecutors and the commencement of judicial proceedings by way of indictment or criminal information, the proceeding to…”
Eagan v. Ayd, 545 A.2d 55 (Md. 1988). “These provisions are now in § 5-1019 of the Family Law Article. [3] Putting aside insubstantial amendments, the next major change came via Ch.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.