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 […]

Section 5-304 – Relationship With Title 5, Subtitle 5

    This subtitle is related to and should be read in relation to Subtitle 5 of this title.

Section 5-305 – Foreign Orders

    (a)    In this section, “order” includes any action that, under the laws of another jurisdiction, has the force and effect of a comparable judicial order under this subtitle.     (b)    In accordance with the United States Constitution, this State shall accord full faith and credit to:         (1)    an order of another state as to adoption or guardianship in compliance […]

Section 5-306 – Paternity

    (a)    Unless a court excludes a man as the father of a child, a man is the father if:         (1)    the man was married to the child’s mother at the time of the child’s conception;         (2)    the man was married to the child’s mother at the time of the child’s birth;         (3)    the man is named as the father […]

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 […]