Adoption is a special opportunity for many Marylanders. Adoption creates a parent-child relationship between otherwise unnrelated people. The parental rights and responsibilities of the natural parents are ended when a court orders an adoption.
Maryland has three different kinds of adoptions: public agency, private agency, and independent. An adoption starts with the filing of a petition for adoption in the Circuit Court. The natural parents are asked to consent to the adoption and are allowed to object to the adoption. Sometimes the natural parents are not to be found. (Usually) a lawyer files a petition with the court. The court then holds a hearing where the court will either grant or deny the petition.
Virtually any adult in Maryland can adopt a child or at least petition the court for an adoption. The petitioner can be single. If an adult petitions through a public agency, they will be required to complete a 27-hour home study course. If you are adopting a child through an agency make sure that agency is licensed by the Maryland Department of Human Resources’ Social Services Administration. The adopting parent should be aware that there is a period of time where the agency can “take back” the consent for adoption that was given. A long list of materials and information are required by the court for the court to grant an adoption. The spirit of this list or the purpose of it is to make sure that the court is not giving the (usually) child away without consent from the natural parents.
Generally, after notice is sent to natural parents, there is a hearing. If all the materials for the petition are tot he court’s satisfaction, then the court will grant the petition for adoption. Call 443-494-9775 for help with your adoption.
By Scott MacMullan