Ch. 282

LAWS OF MARYLAND

the juvenile proceeding; providing that, if a person is
notified of the filing of a petition for adoption or a
petition for guardianship and fails to file a notice of
objection within a certain period of time, the court shall
consider the person to have consented to the adoption or
guardianship and treat the petition in a certain manner; and
generally relating to procedures involving notice of
petitions for adoption or guardianship.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Family Law

Section 5-322

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1984 Volume and 1986 Supplement)

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

Article - Family Law

5-322.

(a)  (1) (I) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a
petitioner shall give to each person whose consent is required
notice of the filing of a petition for adoption or a petition for
guardianship.

(II) IN ADDITION TO THE NOTICE OF FILING
REQUIRED UNDER ITEM (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, IF A PETITION FOR
GUARDIANSHIP IS FILED AFTER A JUVENILE PROCEEDING IN WHICH THE
CHILD HAS BEEN ADJUDICATED TO BE A CHILD IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE, A
NEGLECTED CHILD, OR AN ABUSED CHILD, A PETITIONER SHALL GIVE
NOTICE OF THE FILING OF THE PETITION OF FOR GUARDIANSHIP TO THE
ATTORNEY WHO REPRESENTED A NATURAL PARENT IN THE JUVENILE
PROCEEDING.

(2)  A person whose consent is filed with the petition
need not be given notice if the consent includes a waiver of the

right to notice of the filing of the petition.

(3)  The petitioner shall give notice by entry and
service of a show cause order sent to the last known address that
the petitioner has for each person.

(b)  (1) Except in an independent adoption, if the court is
satisfied by affidavit or testimony that the petitioner, after
reasonable efforts in good faith, cannot learn the identity or
location of a natural parent, the court may waive the requirement
of notice to the natural parent.

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