{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-23","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Family Law § 5–3A–23","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) A child placement agency shall file a written report with a court with jurisdiction over a child whenever:\n(i) the child placement agency fails to place the child for adoption with a preadoptive parent, as defined in § 3-823(i)(1) of the Courts Article:\n1. within 270 days after being awarded guardianship; or\n2. within 180 days after permanently removing the child from another placement; or\n(ii) a court does not enter a final order of adoption within 2 years after the placement.\n(2) A report under this subsection shall state each reason for the delay in placement or adoption.\n(b) (1) Whenever a child placement agency files a report under this section, the child placement agency shall mail notice of the child’s status:\n(i) to each of the child’s living parents who has not waived the right to notice and, if represented, counsel; and\n(ii) if a court appointed counsel for the child under this subtitle, to the child’s last attorney of record.\n(2) A waiver of rights under this subsection is not valid unless the waiver appears expressly in:\n(i) the parent’s consent to guardianship; and\n(ii) the guardianship order.\n(c) (1) Whenever a court receives a report under this section, the court shall hold a hearing to:\n(i) review the progress that the child placement agency has made toward adoption of the child; and\n(ii) take all actions that the court considers to be in the child’s best interests.\n(2) Each year after a hearing under paragraph (1) of this subsection until the court’s jurisdiction terminates, the court shall hold another review hearing.","path":["Article - Family Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gfl\u0026section=5-3A-23","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:17Z","sha256":"cd7f286cfe56efac8eedca85c31222ef61c0e77fee2151efc6bb456030f4bb7d","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-22","next":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-24"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}