1008                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 622

81.     (Petition.) Every petition filed for the adoption of a minor
under 21 years of age shall be under oath or affirmation of the peti-
tioner and the titling thereof shall be substantially as follows: "Ex

parte in the matter of the petition of............................................for the

adoption of a minor". The petition or the exhibits annexed [hereto]
thereto shall contain the following information:

(a)    The name, sex, date and place of birth of the person to be
adopted, and the names and addresses and residences of the natural
parents, if known to the petitioner;

(b)  The name, address, age, business or employment of the peti-
tioner, and the name of the employer, if any, of the petitioner;

(c)  The names and relationship of the petitioner [of] to any mem-
bers of the immediate family of the petitioner, and the relationship,
if any, of the person to be adopted to the petitioner;

(d)   The race and religious affiliation, if any, of the person to be
adopted, or of his natural parent or parents;

(e)   The race and religious affiliation, if any, of the petitioner;

(f)   The names and addresses of the natural persons, and the in-
stitutions which have had physical or legal care and custody of the
child since its birth, and the period of time during which such natural
persons and institutions have had such care and custody and whether
the homes of such natural persons and institutions were duly [regis-
tered or] licensed under the laws of the State with reference to
foster homes;

(g)  Any change of name which may be desired.

If any of the above facts are unknown to the petitioner, the peti-
tion shall state this fact. If any of the above facts are known to a
child care or child placement agency, which as a matter of social
policy declines to disclose them to the petitioner, the facts may be
disclosed to the court in an exhibit filed with the petition by the
agency in question. If more than one petitioner joins in a petition,
the requirements of this section shall be applicable to each petitioner.

82.     (Consent.) Every petition for adoption shall be accompanied
by written statements of consent, subscribed and sworn to before a
person authorized by law to administer an oath, as specified in this
section, except that the court may in its discretion permit any petition
to be filed without a necessary consent if such consent is added to the
petition before the time set for hearings [;] . [but in no event
shall an interlocutory or final decree of adoption be made without
having the consent required by this section unless for reasons satis-
factory to the court, it shall appear proper to dispense therewith.]
However, the court may grant a petition for adoption without any of
the consents hereinafter specified, if, after a hearing the court finds
that such consent or consents are withheld contrary to the best
interests of the child.

Consent to any proposed adoption shall be obtained from:

(a)  the person to be adopted, if he is ten years of age or over; and
also,

(b)  both the natural parents, if married, if they are alive and have
not lost their [paternal] parental rights through court action or
voluntary relinquishment or abandonment; or

(c)  one natural parent, if the other is not alive or has lost his
parental rights as mentioned in (b) above; or