{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-301","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Family Law § 5–301","heading":"","body":"(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.\n(b) “Caregiver” means a person with whom a child resides and who exercises responsibility for the welfare of the child.\n(c) “Child” means an individual who is the subject of a guardianship or adoption petition under this subtitle.\n(d) “Developmental disability” has the meaning stated in § 3–801 of the Courts Article.\n(e) “Guardianship” means an award, under this subtitle, of any power of a guardian.\n(f) “Identifying information” means information that reveals the identity or location of an individual.\n(g) (1) “Parent” means an individual who, at the time a petition for guardianship is filed under this subtitle or at any time before a court terminates the individual’s parental rights:\n(i) meets a criterion in § 5–306(a) of this subtitle; or\n(ii) is the mother.\n(2) “Parent” does not include an individual whom a court has adjudicated not to be a father or mother of a child.\n(h) “Party” means:\n(1) in a guardianship case under this subtitle:\n(i) the child;\n(ii) except as provided in § 5–326(a)(3)(iii) of this subtitle, the child’s parent; and\n(iii) the local department to which the child is committed;\n(2) in an adoption case under Part III of this subtitle:\n(i) the child;\n(ii) the child’s parent; and\n(iii) the individual seeking adoption;\n(3) in an adoption case under Part IV of this subtitle:\n(i) the child; and\n(ii) the individual seeking adoption; and\n(4) if express reference is made to a CINA case, a governmental unit or person defined as a party in § 3–801 of the Courts Article.","path":["Article - Family Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gfl\u0026section=5-301","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:17Z","sha256":"f05f933140285ca6a560189fe2158dfd931cecb01fd28422a83f6c86615996e9","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-2a-06","next":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-302"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}