{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-45","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Family Law § 5–3A–45","heading":"","body":"(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, a person may not charge or receive, from or for a parent or prospective adoptive parent, any compensation for a service in connection with:\n(1) placement of an individual to live with a preadoptive family; or\n(2) an agreement for custody in contemplation of adoption.\n(b) (1) In this subsection, “Administration” means the Social Services Administration of the Department.\n(2) This section does not:\n(i) prohibit payment, by an interested person, of:\n1. a customary and reasonable charge or fee for adoption counseling, hospital, legal, or medical services;\n2. reasonable expenses for transportation for medical care associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child;\n3. reasonable expenses for food, clothing, and shelter for a birth mother if, on written advice of a physician, the birth mother is unable to work or otherwise support herself because of medical reasons associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child; or\n4. reasonable expenses associated with any required court appearance relating to the adoption, including transportation, food, and lodging expenses; or\n(ii) prevent the Administration, or a person that the Administration licenses or supervises, from receiving and accepting reasonable reimbursement for costs of an adoptive service in connection with adoption, if:\n1. the reimbursement is in accordance with standards set by regulation of the Administration; and\n2. the ability to provide this reimbursement does not affect:\nA. the acceptability of any individual for adoptive services; or\nB. the choice of the most suitable prospective adoptive parent.\n(c) Each State’s Attorney shall enforce this section.\n(d) A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or both, for each offense.","path":["Article - Family Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gfl\u0026section=5-3A-45","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:17Z","sha256":"780833f6b86b7c3714f80f5cd1e262d6e90eb5621b671720d33431f8ab165440","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3a-43","next":"us-md/md.-code-family-law-5-3b-01"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}