{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-15","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Family Law § 5–3A–15","heading":"","body":"(a) On issuance of a show–cause order as to guardianship of a child, a petitioner shall serve the order on each of the child’s living parents who has not consented to the guardianship.\n(b) Service under this section shall be by:\n(1) personal service; or\n(2) certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested.\n(c) Service on a parent under this section shall be attempted at the parent’s last address known to the petitioner.\n(d) (1) If a court is satisfied, by affidavit or testimony, that, after reasonable efforts in good faith, a petitioner could not identify a parent or could not effect service on a parent, the court shall order service through notice by publication as to that parent.\n(2) Notice under this subsection shall consist of substantially the following statement:\nTo: (Father’s name) To: (Mother’s name) To: Unknown parent\n“You are hereby notified that a guardianship case has been filed in the circuit court for (county name), case no. (number). All persons who believe themselves to be parents of a (male or female) child born on (date of birth) in (city, state) to (mother’s and father’s names and dates of birth) shall file a written response. A copy of the show–cause order may be obtained from the clerk’s office at (address) and (telephone number). If you do not file a written objection by (deadline), you will have agreed to the permanent loss of your parental rights to this child.”\n(3) Service under this subsection shall be by:\n(i) publication at least once in one or more newspapers in general circulation in the county where the parent last resided or, if unknown, where the petition is filed; and\n(ii) posting for at least 30 days on a website of the Department.\n(4) The Department may charge a petitioner a reasonable fee to cover the cost of posting.","path":["Article - Family Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gfl\u0026section=5-3A-15","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:17Z","sha256":"57ce16f9ff6587d73b889b9094fe9a2386f046626d2bb17a4da8adae83f02d90","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-14","next":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-16"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}