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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-318" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Guardianship to and Adoption Through Local Department">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In addition to any hearing required under this subsection or § 5-306(b)(2) of this subtitle, a juvenile court may hold a hearing before entering a guardianship order under § 5-320(a)(1) of this subtitle or otherwise ruling on a guardianship petition.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a party becomes aware, before a juvenile court rules on a guardianship petition, that a condition of consent under § 5-320(b) of this subtitle may not be fulfilled:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the party promptly shall:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>file notice with the juvenile court;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>give notice to all of the other parties; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>if consent was received from a governmental unit or person who is not a party, give notice to that unit or person;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the juvenile court shall schedule a hearing to occur within 30 days after the filing of the notice; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>if the party, unit, or person whose condition cannot be fulfilled fails to enter into a new consent, the juvenile court shall set the case in for a prompt trial on the merits of the petition.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Before a juvenile court grants guardianship under § 5-320(a)(2) of this subtitle, the juvenile court shall hold a trial on the merits of the petition.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Before a trial or other hearing under this section, a juvenile court shall give notice to all of the parties.</text>
  </level>
</section>
