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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-3A-07" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="3A" subtitle_name="Private Agency Guardianship and Adoption">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In a case under this subtitle, a court shall appoint an attorney to represent a parent who:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>has a disability that makes the parent incapable of effectively participating in the case; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>when the parent must decide whether to consent under this subtitle, is still a minor.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>To determine whether a disability makes a parent incapable of effectively participating in a case, a court, on its own motion or on motion of a party, may order examination of the parent.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In an adoption proceeding under this subtitle, a court shall appoint an attorney to represent a prospective adoptee who:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is at least 10 years old; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>is a minor; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>has a disability that makes the prospective adoptee incapable of effectively participating in the proceeding.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>To determine whether a disability makes a child incapable of effectively participating in a case, a court, on its own motion or on motion of a party, may order examination of the child.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>An attorney or firm:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>may represent more than one party in a case under this subtitle only if the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct allow; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>may not represent a prospective adoptive parent and parent in the same case.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Counsel appointed under this section may be compensated for reasonable fees, as approved by the court.</text>
  </level>
</section>
