{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-1-201","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Family Law § 1–201","heading":"","body":"(a) For the purposes of subsection (b)(10) of this section, “child” means an unmarried individual under the age of 21 years.\n(b) An equity court has jurisdiction over:\n(1) adoption of a child, except for a child who is under the jurisdiction of any juvenile court and who previously has been adjudicated to be a child in need of assistance;\n(2) alimony;\n(3) annulment of a marriage;\n(4) divorce;\n(5) custody or guardianship of a child except for a child who is under the jurisdiction of any juvenile court and who previously has been adjudicated to be a child in need of assistance;\n(6) visitation of a child;\n(7) legitimation of a child;\n(8) paternity;\n(9) support of a child;\n(10) custody or guardianship of an immigrant child pursuant to a motion for Special Immigrant Juvenile factual findings requesting a determination that the child was abused, neglected, or abandoned before the age of 18 years for purposes of § 101(a)(27)(J) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act; and\n(11) a petition for authorization for a minor to marry.\n(c) In exercising its jurisdiction over the custody, guardianship, visitation, or support of a child, an equity court may:\n(1) direct who shall have the custody or guardianship of a child, pendente lite or permanently;\n(2) determine who shall have visitation rights to a child;\n(3) decide who shall be charged with the support of the child, pendente lite or permanently;\n(4) from time to time, set aside or modify its decree or order concerning the child; or\n(5) issue an injunction to protect a party to the action from physical harm or harassment.\n(d) This section does not take away or impair the jurisdiction of a juvenile court or a criminal court with respect to the custody, guardianship, visitation, and support of a child.","path":["Article - Family Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gfl\u0026section=1-201","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:17Z","sha256":"9766d2b417f4232822fbc3bec5f6e9eebf1fa5a134d00a31342303915a6baa05","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-1-101","next":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-1-202"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}