§ 5–3A-23
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law § 5-3A-23 (2026)
Title 5. Children
Subtitle 3A. Private Agency Guardianship and Adoption
§ 5–3A-23LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
A child placement agency shall file a written report with a court with jurisdiction over a child whenever:
(i)
the child placement agency fails to place the child for adoption with a preadoptive parent, as defined in § 3-823(i)(1) of the Courts Article:
(1)
within 270 days after being awarded guardianship; or
(2)
within 180 days after permanently removing the child from another placement; or
(ii)
a court does not enter a final order of adoption within 2 years after the placement.
(2)
A report under this subsection shall state each reason for the delay in placement or adoption.
(b)
(1)
Whenever a child placement agency files a report under this section, the child placement agency shall mail notice of the child’s status:
(i)
to each of the child’s living parents who has not waived the right to notice and, if represented, counsel; and
(ii)
if a court appointed counsel for the child under this subtitle, to the child’s last attorney of record.
(2)
A waiver of rights under this subsection is not valid unless the waiver appears expressly in:
(i)
the parent’s consent to guardianship; and
(ii)
the guardianship order.
(c)
(1)
Whenever a court receives a report under this section, the court shall hold a hearing to:
(i)
review the progress that the child placement agency has made toward adoption of the child; and
(ii)
take all actions that the court considers to be in the child’s best interests.
(2)
Each year after a hearing under paragraph (1) of this subsection until the court’s jurisdiction terminates, the court shall hold another review hearing.