{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-19","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Family Law § 5–3A–19","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) Consent of a parent may include a waiver of the right to notice of:\n(i) the filing of a petition under this subtitle; and\n(ii) further proceedings under this subtitle.\n(2) Consent to guardianship is not valid unless the consent:\n(i) is given after the child for whom guardianship is sought is born;\n(ii) is given in a language that the party understands;\n(iii) if given in a language other than English:\n1. is given before a judge on the record; or\n2. is accompanied by the affidavit of a translator stating that the translation of the document of consent is accurate;\n(iv) contains an express notice of:\n1. the right to revoke consent, at any time within 30 days after the person signs the consent, unless the revocation is barred under subsection (b)(2) of this section;\n2. the search rights of adoptees and parents under § 5-3A-42 of this subtitle and the search rights of adoptees, parents, and siblings under Subtitle 4B of this title; and\n3. the right to file a disclosure veto under § 5-3A-42 of this subtitle; and\n(v) is accompanied by an affidavit of counsel appointed under § 5-3A-07(a) of this subtitle stating that a parent who is a minor or has a disability consents knowingly and voluntarily.\n(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may revoke consent to guardianship at any time within 30 days after the person signs the consent.\n(2) A parent may not revoke consent for guardianship of a child if:\n(i) in the preceding year, the parent has revoked consent for or filed a notice of objection to guardianship of the child; and\n(ii) the child is at least 30 days old and consent is given before a judge on the record.\n(c) If a petitioner becomes aware, before a court rules on a petition, that a condition of consent under § 5-3A-18(b) of this subtitle cannot be fulfilled, the petitioner promptly shall:\n(1) file notice with the court;\n(2) give notice to all of the other parties;\n(3) if consent was received from a governmental unit or person who is not a party, give notice to that unit or person; and\n(4) (i) if the unit or person enters into a new consent, file the consent with the court; or\n(ii) if the unit or person fails to enter into a new consent, dismiss the petition.","path":["Article - Family Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gfl\u0026section=5-3A-19","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:17Z","sha256":"fba107d106adda056783403960cfd30e8c93365ae09d08a32dcce19f56885b59","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-18","next":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-20"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}