2840

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 748

certain foreign decree that meets certain requirements and
is granted by a certain foreign body; and generally relating
to petitions for final decrees of adoption or guardianship
for children born in of a jurisdiction or a country other
than the United States its territories or possessions.

BY adding to

Article - Family Law

Section 5-313.1

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1984 Volume and 1985 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Family Law

Section 5-317

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1984 Volume and 1985 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

5-313.1.

A COURT MAY GRANT A DECREE OF ADOPTION OR A DECREE OF
GUARDIANSHIP WITHOUT REQUIRING THE CONSENT OF A NATURAL PARENT
OTHERWISE REQUIRED UNDER §§ 5-311 AND 5-317 OF THIS SUBTITLE IF?

(1) THE PETITIONER FILES WITH THE PETITION FOR
ADOPTION OR GUARDIANSHIP A FINAL DECREE OF ADOPTION,
GUARDIANSHIP, OR CUSTODY TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS GRANTED
BY A JUDICIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, OR EXECUTIVE BODY OF A
JURISDICTION OR COUNTRY OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES, ITS
TERRITORIES OR POSSESSIONS; OR THAT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THAT COUNTRY.

(2) THE CHILD WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE DECREE OF
ADOPTION, GUARDIANSHIP, OR CUSTODY WAS BORN IN THE COUNTRY WHERE
THE DECREE WAS GRANTED.

5-317.

(a)  A petition for a decree of adoption may be preceded by
a petition for guardianship of the child.

(b)  Only the executive head of a child placement agency may
file a petition for the agency to be granted guardianship.