{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-331","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Family Law § 5–331","heading":"","body":"(a) Before termination of parental rights as to a child, a petition for adoption of the child may be filed only as provided in this Part III of this subtitle.\n(b) (1) With the consent of the local department with custody of a child, any adult may petition a juvenile court under this Part III of this subtitle to adopt the child.\n(2) If a petitioner under this section is married, the petitioner’s spouse shall join in the petition unless the spouse:\n(i) is separated from the petitioner under a circumstance that gives the petitioner a ground for annulment or divorce; or\n(ii) is not competent to join in the petition.\n(c) (1) A petitioner under this section shall attach to a petition:\n(i) for a parent who is dead, a death certificate;\n(ii) for each other parent:\n1. the consent required under this Part III of this subtitle;\n2. an affidavit, by the local department with custody of the child, stating that:\nA. despite reasonable efforts as provided in § 5-316 of this subtitle, the parent cannot be located; and\nB. to the best knowledge of the local department, the parent has not contacted the local department or child for at least 180 days immediately before the filing of the petition; or\n3. if applicable:\nA. proof of guardianship or relinquishment of parental rights granted by an administrative, executive, or judicial body of a state or other jurisdiction; and\nB. certification that the guardianship or relinquishment was granted in compliance with the jurisdiction’s laws;\n(iii) each other consent required under § 5-338 of this subtitle;\n(iv) a copy of an agreement, if any, for postadoption contact; and\n(v) a notice of filing that:\n1. states the date on which the petition was filed;\n2. identifies each person whose consent was filed with the petition;\n3. states the obligation of a parent to give the juvenile court and local department notice of each change in the parent’s address;\n4. if applicable, states that a postadoption agreement was filed with the petition; and\n5. includes no identifying information that would be in violation of an agreement or consent.\n(2) In addition to a copy of an agreement for postadoption contact, a petitioner shall file the original agreement under seal.\n(d) If the marital status of a petitioner changes before entry of an order, the petitioner shall amend the petition accordingly.\n(e) The local department with custody of the child shall assist a petitioner in complying with the requirements of this section.","path":["Article - Family Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gfl\u0026section=5-331","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:17Z","sha256":"2b693b842e119d18671aa8e9b609d00acb24a5554e9afbd73b5c6ec8de0feda2","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-328","next":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-332"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}