Maryland
Legislative Agenda for Women
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What You Can Do to Take Action on Legislation
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Family
Law—Denial of Paternity, Custody and Visitation Synopsis:
This bill seeks to limit the parental rights of rapists when a child was conceived as a result of the rape.
Committee(s): House
Judiciary and Senate
Judicial Proceedings Lead Sponsors: Delegate
Kathleen Dumais, 410-841-3052 Lead Group(s): Maryland
Coalition Against Sexual Assault Background Information: This
bill seeks to limit the parental rights of rapists when a child was conceived as
a result of the rape. Currently, if
a survivor of rape has a child as a result of the rape, the rapist has parental
rights under Maryland law. A
survivor who chooses to make an adoption plan for the child must notify the
rapist and he has the right to contest the adoption.
A survivor who chooses to raise the child may have to litigate issues of
custody and visitation and the rapist will have the right to raise these issues
repeatedly until the child turns 18. The
issue of parental rights for rapists is
an important issue for women. Women
are disproportionately the victims of sexual assault and women are those who
must deal with a pregnancy caused by rape. |
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