What are Maryland's adoption laws?

Maryland adoption is governed by Maryland Code Family Law Title 5, Subtitle 3A. Here are the key provisions:

Residency: 0 months (Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3A-02)

Court: Circuit Court

Child Consent: Age 10+ (Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3A-18)

Abandonment: 12 months no contact (Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3A-35)

Termination: Can be included in adoption proceeding

Home Study: Typically waived for stepparents (Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-04)

Timeline: Minor: 3-6 months | Adult: 4-8 weeks

Maryland has 24 counties, each with its own Circuit Court. Our documents are customized for your specific countie's requirements.

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