What are the adoption laws in Maryland?

Maryland adoption law lets a stepparent adopt a spouse's child through the Circuit Court in the county where you file, and it is governed by Maryland Code Family Law Title 5, Subtitle 3A. Maryland has 24 counties, and each has its own Circuit Court clerk's office. Here is how the main rules work for stepfamilies.

Who can petition. Any adult may petition a court for adoption under Md. Code, Fam. Law § 5-3B-13(b)(1). The adoption subtitle sets no numeric minimum age beyond being an adult (18). If you have a question about your own situation, the clerk can confirm it.

Where you file. Adoptions are heard in the Circuit Court sitting as an equity court, and venue is covered by Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 6-203(e). Maryland has no minimum residency period before you can file, but the venue rules decide which county is the right one, so check with the clerk in your county.

Consent and notice.

• The other biological parent must receive proper notice of the adoption.
• A child who is 10 or older has a role in consenting, under Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-20(b)(1)(ii).
• Maryland's abandonment period is 12 months, under Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-22(b)(1). If the other parent is absent, unknown or disagrees, your case depends on its specific facts, so talk to the court clerk or an attorney about that issue.

Home study. Maryland does not waive the home study for stepparent adoptions. The rule is in Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-3B-16, so plan for this step and ask the clerk how it works in your county.

Name change. Maryland allows a name change as part of the adoption, so you can request one in the same case. For questions about birth records afterward, the agency to contact is the Maryland Division of Vital Records.

Timeline and cost. A stepparent adoption in Maryland typically takes 3-6 months. Court filing fees generally run $200-$500, and the total typical cost is under $1,000 when you prepare the paperwork yourself. Hiring an attorney is often $3,000-$5,000+.