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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-3B-27" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="3B" subtitle_name="Independent Adoption">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This section applies only to an adoption by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>an individual who is the spouse of the prospective adoptee’s mother at the time of the prospective adoptee’s conception or birth; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>an individual who, together with the prospective adoptee’s mother, consented to the conception of the prospective adoptee by means of assisted reproduction with the shared express intent of being parents of the prospective adoptee.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>This section does not apply to a nonconsensual adoption under § 5–3B–22 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>In a proceeding under this section, the petitioner shall file, together with the petition for adoption:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>for an adoption described in subsection (a)(1)(i) of this section, a copy of the petitioner’s and prospective adoptee’s mother’s marriage certificate; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>for an adoption described in subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section, evidence of the parties’ shared express intent to become parents of the child by means of assisted reproduction, including a copy of any written agreement consenting to the conception of the prospective adoptee by means of assisted reproduction;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a copy of the prospective adoptee’s birth certificate; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>a statement explaining the circumstances of the prospective adoptee’s conception in detail sufficient to identify any individual who may be entitled to notice or whose consent may be required under this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In ruling on a petition for adoption under this section, the court may not require an investigation under § 5–3B–16 of this subtitle or a hearing under § 5–3B–17 of this subtitle, except for good cause.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The court may hold a hearing to determine whether there are additional individuals who may be entitled to notice or whose consent may be required under this subtitle if the court is not satisfied from the pleadings that the appropriate notice or consent has been provided.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The court shall enter an order for adoption under this section on finding that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>the petitioner was married to the prospective adoptee’s mother at the time of the prospective adoptee’s birth; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the petitioner and the prospective adoptee’s mother consent to the conception of the child by means of assisted reproduction with the shared express intent to be parents of the child;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>each of the prospective adoptee’s living parents, as defined in § 5–3B–01 of this subtitle, and any known gamete donor have consented to the adoption:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>in writing; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>by failure to file timely notice of objection after being served with a show–cause order in accordance with this subtitle; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the adoption is in the best interest of the child.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An order for adoption granted under this section is confirmation of parentage established under § 1–206(b) or § 1–208(b)(2) of the Estates and Trusts Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>This section may not be construed to require an individual who is a parent of a child under § 1–206 or § 1–208 of the Estates and Trusts Article to adopt the child.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Unless a prospective adoptee’s living parent consents to the termination of the parent’s parental duties, obligations, or rights, an order for adoption granted under this section does not terminate the parental duties, obligations, or rights.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
