<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-3B-13" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="3B" subtitle_name="Independent Adoption">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Any adult or minor may be adopted under this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Any adult may petition a court for adoption.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a petitioner is married and the prospective adoptee is a minor, the petitioner’s spouse shall join in the petition unless the spouse:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is separated from the petitioner under a circumstance that gives the petitioner a ground for annulment or divorce;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>is not competent to join in the petition; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>is a parent of the prospective adoptee; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>has consented to the adoption in accordance with this subtitle.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If the petitioner is married and the prospective adoptee is an adult, the petitioner’s spouse may join in the petition.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Before a petition is filed under this subtitle, a petitioner shall move for, and a court shall order that, a case pending under Subtitle 3 of this title be closed.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If the marital status of a petitioner changes before entry of an order under this subtitle, the petitioner shall amend the petition accordingly.</text>
  </level>
</section>
