Trembow v. Schonfeld

The issue before us is whether the mother of a destitute adult child born out of wedlock is entitled to pursue a paternity action against the man she now claims is the father of the child and collect child support from him. The issue involves the interplay between the State paternity law (Maryland Code, §§ 5-1001 through 5-1044 of the Family Law Article) (FL), and the law requiring parents to support their destitute adult children (FL §§ 13-101 through 13-109).

We shall conclude that the mother is not entitled to pursue a paternity action after the child has turned 18 and is no longer in high…