Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall be licensed by the Administration as a child placement agency before the person may engage in the placement of minor children in homes or with individuals. A license is not required: for a person to place a child with an individual related to the child by blood or marriage within 4 degrees of consanguinity or affinity under the civil law rule; except as provided in § 5-3B-12 of this title, for a parent or grandparent of a child to place the child directly, without the intervention of any other person except the recipient of the child; or for a lawyer to prepare pleadings necessary to accomplish the adoption of a child or to perform any other function associated with the normal practice of law.