Section 5-307 – Appointed Counsel
(a) (1) Unless the public defender is required under § 16–204 of the Criminal Procedure Article to provide representation, in a case under Part II or Part III of this subtitle, a juvenile court shall appoint an attorney to represent a parent who: (i) has a disability that makes the parent incapable of effectively participating in the case; […]
Section 5-308 – Agreement for Postadoption Contact
(a) (1) A prospective adoptive parent and parent of a prospective adoptee under this subtitle may enter into a written agreement to allow contact, after the adoption, between: (i) the parent or other relative of the adoptee; and (ii) the adoptee or adoptive parent. (2) An adoptive parent and former parent of an adoptee under this subtitle may enter into […]
Section 5-309 – Assessment of Costs
A juvenile court may assign counsel fees and costs among the parties to a case as the juvenile court considers appropriate and the parties’ economic situations allow.
Section 5-310 – Appeal
A party to a case under this subtitle may appeal to the Court of Special Appeals: (1) in an interlocutory appeal, from a denial of the right to participate in a guardianship case before entry of an order for guardianship; (2) in an interlocutory appeal, from a denial of the right to participate in an adoption case […]
Section 5-313 – Petition
(a) Except as provided in § 5-331 of this subtitle, a petition for guardianship shall precede a petition for adoption under this subtitle. (b) Only the individual who would be subject to guardianship or a local department may file a petition for guardianship under this Part II of this subtitle. (c) A petition for guardianship of an individual […]
Section 5-314 – Parental Addresses
A clerk of a juvenile court shall keep a listing of each address given to the juvenile court for a parent under this Part II of this subtitle.
Section 5-315 – Notice of Filing
(a) Within 5 days after a petition for guardianship of a child is filed with a juvenile court, the clerk shall send a copy of the petition, with the notice of filing that was attached to the petition, to: (1) the local department; (2) each of the child’s living parents who has not waived the right to notice; […]
Section 5-316 – Order to Show Cause
(a) Promptly after a petition for guardianship is filed under this Part II of this subtitle, a juvenile court shall issue a show–cause order that requires the party to whom it is issued to respond as required under the Maryland Rules. (b) On issuance of a show–cause order as to guardianship of a child, a petitioner shall […]
Section 5-317 – Investigations
In addition to any investigation required under § 5-323(c) of this subtitle, a juvenile court may order a neutral governmental unit or neutral person to carry out any investigation that the juvenile court considers necessary to determine a child’s best interests in ruling on a petition for guardianship.
Section 5-303 – Statement of Findings; Purposes
(a) The General Assembly finds that the policies and procedures of this subtitle are desirable and socially necessary. (b) The purposes of this subtitle are to: (1) timely provide permanent and safe homes for children consistent with their best interests; (2) protect children from unnecessary separation from their parents; (3) ensure adoption only by individuals fit for the responsibility; (4) protect […]