# Family Law (GFL)

## Title 5. Children

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

#### Section 5-3A-18

(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 Sec. 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.

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