1306                                      LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 651

149.

Shares may be issued and deposits received in the name of a [minor] PERSON
UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE and in trust in such way and manner as
the bylaws may provide.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Sections 66H(a),
66J(d), 70, 82 and 87(b) of Article 16 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1966
replacement Volume and 1972 Supplement), title "Chancery," subtitles "Paternity
Proceedings," and "Adoption," be and they are hereby repealed and re-enacted,
with amendments, and all to read as follows:

66H.

(a) If the finding of the court or jury, as the case may be, be against the
defendant alleged to be the putative father, the court shall pass an order declaring
the defendant to be the father of said child and providing for the support and
maintenance of the child. Such order shall specify the sum to be paid by the
defendant weekly or otherwise until the child reaches the age of [21] 18 years,
dies, marries or becomes self-supporting, whichever event first occurs; provided,
that in any case where said child, having reached [21] 18 years of age, is destitute
of means and unable to support himself by reason of mental or physical infirmity,
the court shall have power to require payments to be made or continued during the
continuance of such mental or physical infirmity. The court may order a lien upon
the earnings of the defendant in the amount so specified and the employer is
required to deduct that amount as soon as notified by the court. All such
deductions are to be paid directly by the employer to the recipient designated by
the court. In addition to providing for the support and maintenance of the child,
the order also may require the defendant to pay all or any part of the mother's
medical and hospital expense for her pregnancy, confinement, and recovery, and
for the funeral expenses if the child has died or dies; and in addition thereto, may
award counsel fees to the attorney representing the complainant or petitioner.
Costs shall be awarded as in other civil cases in accordance with Rule 604 of the
Maryland Rules of Practice and Procedure; provided, that the court, in its
discretion, may order that all or any part of the costs shall be paid by the county
or City of Baltimore, as the case may be, where the proceedings were instituted.

66 J.

(d) Any monies due and unpaid for the support of the child at the time it
reaches the age of [21] 18 years, dies, marries, or becomes self-supporting, shall
be a continuing obligation of the party or parties bound by the order of the court
to pay the same, until finally and completely paid under all the provisions of law
applicable to the order.

70.

Any person over [twenty-one] EIGHTEEN years of age may petition the court
to decree an adoption. If the petitioner has a husband or wife living, competent to
join in the petition and not separated from the petitioner under circumstances
which would give the petitioner a legal ground for divorce or annulment, such
husband or wife shall join in the petition. A person petitioning to become an
adoptive parent shall not be denied an affirmative decree solely because he is single
or without a spouse. If the marital status of the petitioner changes after the time of
filing the petition, and before the time of the entry of a final decree of adoption in
the case, the petition shall be amended accordingly, it being the intent of this
section that married persons who are living together and competent may adopt a
person only upon the joint action of both. Provided, however, that if either the
husband or wife is a natural parent of the person to be adopted, such natural