<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-3B-15" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="3B" subtitle_name="Independent Adoption">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This section does not apply to an adoption of an adult.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Subsection (b) of this section does not apply to an adoption by a spouse of the prospective adoptee’s parent or a relative of the prospective adoptee.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A court shall issue a show–cause order that includes advice as to the parent’s rights to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>have independent counsel; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>receive adoption counseling and guidance.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>On issuance of a show–cause order as to a prospective adoptee, a petitioner shall serve the order:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>on each of the prospective adoptee’s living parents who has not consented to the adoption; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>if the prospective adoptee is at least 10 years old and has not consented to the adoption, on the prospective adoptee.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Service under this section shall be by:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>personal service; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Service under this section shall be attempted at the parent’s last address known to the petitioner.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Notice under this subsection shall consist of substantially the following statement:</text>
      <text>To: (Father’s name) To: (Mother’s name) To: Unknown parent “You are hereby notified that an adoption 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.”</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Service under this subsection shall be by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>publication at least once in one or more newspapers in general circulation in the county where the petition is filed or, if different, where the parent’s last address known to the petitioner is located; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>posting for at least 30 days on a website of the Department.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Department may charge a petitioner a reasonable fee to cover the cost of posting.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
