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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-3B-22" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="3B" subtitle_name="Independent Adoption">
  <level label="a">
    <text>This section applies only if a parent affirmatively withholds consent by filing a notice of objection.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A court may allow adoption, without parental consent otherwise required under this subtitle, by a petitioner who has exercised physical care, control, or custody over the prospective adoptee for at least 180 days, if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the parent has not had custody of the prospective adoptee for at least 1 year;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the prospective adoptee has significant emotional ties to and feelings for the petitioner; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the parent:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>has not maintained meaningful contact with the prospective adoptee while the petitioner had custody, notwithstanding an opportunity to do so;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>has failed to contribute to the prospective adoptee’s physical care and support, notwithstanding the ability to do so;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>has subjected the prospective adoptee to:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>chronic abuse;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>chronic and life–threatening neglect;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>sexual abuse; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="D">
          <text>torture;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>has been convicted of abuse of any offspring;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>has been convicted, in any state or any court of the United States, of:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>a crime of violence against:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="I">
          <text>a minor offspring of the parent;</text>
          <text>II.    the child; or</text>
          <text>III.    another parent of the child; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>aiding or abetting, conspiring, or soliciting to commit a crime described in item A of this item; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>has, other than by consent, lost parental rights to a sibling of the prospective adoptee.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a court finds that an act or circumstance listed in paragraph (1)(iii)3 or 5 of this subsection exists, the court shall make a specific finding, based on facts in the record, whether return of the prospective adoptee to the custody of the parent poses an unacceptable risk to the prospective adoptee’s safety.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>In determining whether it is in the best interests of a prospective adoptee to terminate a parent’s rights under this subsection, a court shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>give primary consideration to the health and safety of the prospective adoptee; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>consider the report required under § 5–3B–16 of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
