The use of screening questionnaries in the evalution of school-age children behavior is growing in different contexts of application and research. However, there is demand for further investigation of the psychometric qualities in these instruments in specific risk conditions.  The aim of this study was to identify indicators of reliability and validity of the Strenghs and Difficulties Questionnarie (SDQ) - Parent Version in the evaluation of behavioral problems in school-age children living with recurrent maternal depression. In a cross-sectional perspective, it was included in this study 100 mothers and school-age children (7-12 years), 50 mothers with recurrent depressiona (clinical sample) and 50 mothers with no mental disorders (comunnity sample), which were systematically evaluated by a diagnostic interview (SCID) and answered the SDQ to identify behavioral problems in children. We proceed to statistical analysis to verify indicators of reliability (Cronbach´s alpha) and valitidy, comparing behavioral problems rates in children living with maternal depression to rates in national and international studies. The analysis of reliability by Cronbach´s alpha showed good psychometric qualities for the 20 items of problems in SDQ - Parent Version for this sample (alpha=.825). The school-age children who live with maternal depression showed three time more chance to present behavioral problems (OR=3,299; IC95%=1,322-8,231; p=0,0156, Fisher´s exact test) compared to children who live with no maternal psychopatology, as found in national and international literature. These findings confirm that SDQ - Parent Version, as a screening instrument, is an important strategy for identification of behavioral problems in school-age children, also for those who live at risk context for mental health. As an instrument with easy and simple application and acess to any health care professional it stands out as a technique that can compose assessment protocols to evaluation children mental health.