3210

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 514

(A)  A MINOR PARENT CAN CONSENT TO AN ADOPTION OR
GUARDIANSHIP. A CONSENT BY A MINOR PARENT IS VALID ONLY IF
THE CONSENT IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN AFFIDAVIT OF AN ATTORNEY
APPOINTED BY THE COURT UNDER § 77 § 77B OF THIS ARTICLE THAT
THE CONSENT OF THE MINOR PARENT IS KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY
GIVEN.

(B)  A PARENTAL CONSENT TO AN ADOPTION OR GUARDIANSHIP
IS VALID ONLY IF SIGNED 15 DAYS OR MORE AFTER THE CHILD'S
BIRTH. IF THE CONSENT SPECIFICALLY CONTAINS NOTICE OF THE
PROVISIONS OF § 74(C) OF THIS ARTICLE, A FINAL DECREE OF
ADOPTION MAY NOT BE ENTERED UNTIL 15 DAYS OR MORE AFTER THE
BIRTH OF THE CHILD.

(C)  (1) IN A GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDING, A CONSENT MAY BE
REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO A FINAL DECREE OF GUARDIANSHIP.

(2) IN AN ADOPTION PROCEEDING, EXCEPT WHEN
PRECEDED BY A FINAL DECREE OF GUARDIANSHIP, CONSENT MAY BE
REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO A FINAL DECREE OF ADOPTION OR
AN INTERLOCUTORY DECREE OF ADOPTION.

75.

(A)  FOLLOWING A DECREE OF GUARDIANSHIP, INCLUDING AN
INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF NATURAL PARENTS' RIGHTS UNDER §
76 OF THIS ARTICLE, A PARENT HAS A RIGHT TO RECEIVE
NOTIFICATION OF THE CHILD'S STATUS, IF:

(1)  A PLACEMENT FOR ADOPTION IS NOT MADE WITHIN
1 YEAR FROM THE ENTRY OF A DECREE OF GUARDIANSHIP;

(2)  WHEN A PLACEMENT FOR ADOPTION HAS BEEN MADE
WITHIN 1 YEAR FROM THE ENTRY OF A DECREE OF GUARDIANSHIP,
THE PLACEMENT IS DISRUPTED, AND A NEW PLACEMENT IS NOT MADE
WITHIN 120 DAYS OF THE DISRUPTION; OR

(3)  A FINAL DECREE OF ADOPTION HAS NOT BEEN
ENTERED WITHIN 3 YEARS OF THE PLACEMENT FOR ADOPTION.

(B)  THE PARENT MAY WAIVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE
NOTIFICATION. ANY WAIVER OF THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE
NOTIFICATION SHALL BE EXPRESSLY STATED IN THE PARENT'S
CONSENT AND IN THE DECREE OF GUARDIANSHIP.

(C)  ON THE OCCURRENCE OF ANY OF THE CONDITIONS SET
FORTH IN SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, THE GUARDIAN SHALL
FILE WITH THE COURT A WRITTEN REPORT GIVING THE REASONS FOR
THE DELAY. IF THE DECREE OF GUARDIANSHIP DOES NOT INCLUDE A
WAIVER OF THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION, THE GUARDIAN
SHALL NOTIFY THE PARENT OF THE DELAY AT THE LAST KNOWN
ADDRESS WHICH THE GUARDIAN HAS FOR THE PARENT.

(D)  THE COURT SHALL REVIEW THE GUARDIAN'S REPORT. IF
THE DECREE OF GUARDIANSHIP DOES NOT INCLUDE A WAIVER OF THE