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Maryland Adoption Laws
More Information on Adoption Laws
| Code Section | Fam. Law §5-301, et seq.; No |
| Who May Be Adopted | Any person |
| Age that Child's Consent Needed | 10 years and older if the natural parents' rights have been terminated |
| Who May Adopt | Any adult, even though single or unmarried. Court cannot deny petition just because petitioner is single. Married persons must act jointly unless legally separated or if one spouse is natural parent of adoptee or spouse is incompetent. |
| Home Residency Required Prior to Finalization of Adoption? | Not required |
| State Agency/Court | Social Services Administration/Circuit or Equity |
| Statute of Limitations to Challenge | 1 year |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.
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