3204

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 514

decree awarding guardianship and vesting in the guardian the
right to consent to arrangements for the long-term care of
the child short of adoption: Such a decree, shall
terminate natural parental rights, duties and obligations
and the consent of the guardian to arrangements for
long-term care shall eliminate the necessity of further
notice to the natural parent or parents. The consent of
the guardian to such arrangements shall not be valid until
approved by the court upon appropriate petition and after
such hearing and investigation as the court may require.

(c) Any person who was granted guardianship with the
right to consent to adoption of a child prior to June 1,
1967 also may consent to long-term care short of adoption.
The consent of the guardian to such arrangements shall not
be valid until approved by the court upon appropriate
petition and after such hearing and investigation as the
court may require.]

[74.

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. 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 interest 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 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

(d)  The mother of a child born out of wedlock, if she
is alive and has not lost her parental rights through court
action or voluntary relinquishment or abandonment, except
that if the child has been legitimated according to the laws
of any jurisdiction, the consent of the father shall then
also be required, if he is alive and has not subsequently
lost his parental rights through court action or voluntary
relinquishment or abandonment; or