# Family Law (GFL)

## Title 5. Children

### Subtitle 3A. Private Agency Guardianship and Adoption

#### Section 5-3A-15

(a) On issuance of a show-cause order as to guardianship of a child, a petitioner shall serve the order on each of the child's living parents who has not consented to the guardianship.

(b) Service under this section shall be by:

  (1) personal service; or

  (2) certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested.

(c) Service on a parent under this section shall be attempted at the parent's last address known to the petitioner.

(d)

  (1) If a court is satisfied, by affidavit or testimony, that, after reasonable efforts in good faith, a petitioner could not identify a parent or could not effect service on a parent, the court shall order service through notice by publication as to that parent.

  (2) Notice under this subsection shall consist of substantially the following statement:

  To: (Father's name)  To:?(Mother's name)  To:?Unknown parent

  "You are hereby notified that a guardianship case has been filed in the circuit court for (county name), case no. (number). All persons who believe themselves to be parents of a (male or female) child born on (date of birth) in (city, state) to (mother's and father's names and dates of birth) shall file a written response. A copy of the show-cause order may be obtained from the clerk's office at (address) and (telephone number). If you do not file a written objection by (deadline), you will have agreed to the permanent loss of your parental rights to this child."

  (3) Service under this subsection shall be by:

    (i) publication at least once in one or more newspapers in general circulation in the county where the parent last resided or, if unknown, where the petition is filed; and

    (ii) posting for at least 30 days on a website of the Department.

  (4) The Department may charge a petitioner a reasonable fee to cover the cost of posting.

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Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)