<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-3B-20" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="3B" subtitle_name="Independent Adoption">
  <level label="a">
    <text>This section does not apply to an adoption of an adult.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A court may enter an order for adoption only if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>each of the prospective adoptee’s living parents consents:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>in writing; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>by failure to timely file notice of objection after being served with a show–cause order in accordance with this subtitle;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>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 unit or person consents; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>parental rights have been terminated in compliance with the laws of a state or other jurisdiction, as described in § 5–3B–04 of this subtitle; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>if the prospective adoptee is at least 10 years old, the prospective adoptee consents; or</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>in accordance with § 5–3B–22 of this subtitle, the court orders adoption without consent otherwise required under this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
