HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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OLDER.

(2)  THE FATHER; AND

(3)  THE PERSON TO BE ADOPTED, IF 10 YEARS OLD OR

(B) IF NATURAL PARENTS' RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED
BY A VALID JUDICIAL PROCEEDING, CONSENT TO AN ADOPTION SHALL
BE OBTAINED FROM:

(1) THE DIRECTOR OR EXECUTIVE HEAD OF A CHILD
PLACEMENT AGENCY WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED GUARDIANSHIP OF THE
PERSON TO BE ADOPTED; AND

OLDER.

73.

(2) THE PERSON TO BE ADOPTED, IF 10 YEARS OLD OR

(A)  A PETITION FOR ADOPTION MAY BE PRECEDED BY A
PETITION FOR GUARDIANSHIP. A PETITION FOR GUARDIANSHIP MAY
ONLY BE FILED BY AND GRANTED TO THE DIRECTOR OR EXECUTIVE
HEAD OF A CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCY.

(B)  WITH THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES ENUMERATED IN
SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION, AND AFTER AN INVESTIGATION
AND HEARING AS THE COURT DEEMS APPROPRIATE, THE COURT MAY
GRANT A DECREE AWARDING GUARDIANSHIP, THE DECREE:

(1)  TERMINATES THE NATURAL PARENTS' RIGHTS,
DUTIES, AND OBLIGATIONS;

(2)  ELIMINATES THE NECESSITY OF GIVING NOTICE TO
THE NATURAL PARENTS OF THE FILING OF A PETITION FOR
ADOPTION; AND

(3) ELIMINATES THE NECESSITY OF FURTHER CONSENT
TO AN ADOPTION BY THE NATURAL PARENTS.

(C)  CONSENT TO GUARDIANSHIP SHALL BE OBTAINED FROM:

(1)  THE MOTHER; AND

(2)  THE FATHER.

(D)  A CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCY WHICH WAS GRANTED
GUARDIANSHIP WITH THE RIGHT TO CONSENT TO ADOPTION PRIOR TO
JUNE 1, 1967, MAY ALSO CONSENT TO LONG-TERM CARE SHORT OF
ADOPTION. THE GUARDIAN'S CONSENT IS VALID ONLY IF APPROVED
BY THE COURT, ON THE APPROPRIATE PETITION, AND AFTER AN
INVESTIGATION AND HEARING AS THE COURT DEEMS APPROPRIATE.

74.