336

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAPTER 244.

AN ACT to amend Article Sixteen of the Code of Public

General Laws, title "Chancery," sub-title "Infants," by

adding six additional sections thereto, to come in after

Section 62 and to be numbered respectively 62 A, 62 B,

62 C, 62 D, 62 B and 62 F.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of

New
sections

Maryland, That six additional sections be added to Article
Sixteen of the Code of Public General Laws, title Chancery,

sub-title Infants, to come in after Section 62 to read as

follows :

62 A. The several Chancery Courts of this State, upon

the application of any person residing in the city or county

Adopted
child

where such application is made, shall have power to pass a

decree declaring any minor child the adopted child of the

petitioner, upon such reasonable notice to the parent or

parents, guardian or gaurdiansof such child if any there be

by summons order of publication or otherwise as the court

may order to be given, provided that the court passing the

decree shall become satisfied, upon careful investigation,

that the best interests and welfare of such child will be

thereby promoted, and provided further, that the child, if of

sufficient intelligence and capacity to give an understanding

assent shall so desire.

62 B. The husband and wife may file a petition jointly

Decree

praying the court to decree the adoption by them jointly of

author-
izing

any child, but no decree of adoption shall pass where the

adoption

petitioner is a married person unless it be shown that the

husband or wife of the petitioner consents to the adoption,

or is hopelessly insane, or that the parties are living apart

under such circumstances as would entitle the petitioner to

a divorce.

62 C. The effect of such decree of adoption shall be to en-

title the child so adopted to the same rights of inheritance

Effect

and distribution as to the petitioner's estate and the same

of such
decree

rights of protection, education and maintenance as if born to

such petitioner in lawful wedlock, and the natural parents

of such child shall be freed from all legal obligation towards

it, provided that where such child inherits property from

its adopted parent or parents, upon its dying intestate with-

out issue the property thus inherited shall descend and be

distributed to the same persons who would take the same by

inheritance and in course of distribution if the child had

been the child of the adopted parents born to them in law-