§ 5–3A-18
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law § 5-3A-18 (2026)
Title 5. Children
Subtitle 3A. Private Agency Guardianship and Adoption
§ 5–3A-18LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A court may grant a guardianship of a child only if:
(1)
each of the child’s living parents consents:
(i)
in writing; or
(ii)
by failure to timely file notice of objection after being served with a show–cause order in accordance with this subtitle;
(2)
an administrative, executive, or judicial body of a state or other jurisdiction has granted a governmental unit or person other than a parent the power to consent to adoption, and the governmental unit or person consents; or
(3)
parental rights have been terminated in compliance with the laws of a state or other jurisdiction, as described in § 5–3A–05 of this subtitle.
(b)
A governmental unit or person:
(1)
may condition consent or acquiescence on adoption into a specific family that a child placement agency has approved for the placement; but
(2)
may not condition consent or acquiescence on any factor other than placement into a specific family.