{"data":{"id":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-9-102","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"18-C M.R.S. §9-102","heading":"Definitions","body":"As used in this Article, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.\n1.  Adoptee.  \"Adoptee\" means a person who will be or who has been adopted, regardless of whether the person is a child or an adult.\n2.  Adult.  \"Adult\" means a person who is 18 years of age or older.\n3.  Child.  \"Child\" means a person who is under 18 years of age.\n4.  Consent.  \"Consent,\" used as a noun, means a voluntary agreement to an adoption by a specific petitioner that is executed by a parent or custodian of the adoptee.\n5.  Department.  \"Department\" means the Department of Health and Human Services.\n6.  Licensed child-placing agency.  \"Licensed child-placing agency\" means an agency, person, group of persons, organization, association or society licensed to operate in this State pursuant to Title 22, chapter 1671.\n7.  Parent.  \"Parent\" means a person who, with respect to a child:\nA.  Has established parentage pursuant to Title 19‑A, chapter 61; or\nB.  When no person described in paragraph A exists, is the legal guardian of the child.\n8.  Petitioner.  \"Petitioner\" means a person filing a petition to adopt an adult or a child, and includes both petitioners under a joint petition, except as otherwise provided in this Article.\n9.  Putative parent.  \"Putative parent\" means a person who is the alleged parent of a child but whose parentage has not been but may be legally determined in accordance with Title 19‑A, chapter 61.\n10.  Surrender and release.  \"Surrender and release,\" used as a noun, means a voluntary relinquishment of all parental rights to a child to the department or a licensed child-placing agency for the purpose of placement for adoption.","path":["TITLE 18-C: PROBATE CODE","PART 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec9-102.html","current_through":"October 1, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:29Z","sha256":"a6ceefe8409207e01f2cebb298d603874ad4aa613739fb04d1524b96d386abd1","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-9-101","next":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-9-103"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}