WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                         Ch. 395

(I) IN AN INDEPENDENT ADOPTION, BY PUBLICATION OR, IF THE
COURT FINDS THE PETITIONER TO BE INDIGENT, BY POSTING; AND

(II) IN ALL OTHER ADOPTIONS AND IN ALL GUARDIANSHIP
PROCEEDINGS, BY POSTING.

(B) (1) IF THERE IS A PATERNITY DECREE IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH
THE PETITION IS FILED THAT ESTABLISHES AN INDIVIDUAL AS THE FATHER OF THE
CHILD, THE PETITIONER SHALL SERVE NOTICE UPON THE FATHER.

(2) IN THE ABSENCE OF A PATERNITY DECREE, THE PETITIONER SHALL
SERVE NOTICE ON THE NATURAL FATHER AS DEFINED IN § 5 310 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(C) IF NO PERSON IS IDENTIFIED ON THE CHILD'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE AS THE
MOTHER OR FATHER OF THE CHILD, AND THE IDENTITY OF THE MOTHER OR
FATHER IS UNKNOWN, NOTICE AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (A)(1) OF THIS
SECTION SHALL BE GIVEN: "TO THE UNKNOWN MOTHER OR FATHER OF (CHILD'S
NAME) OR ALL PERSONS CLAIMING TO BE THE MOTHER OR FATHER OF (CHILD'S
NAME)".

(D) (E) (1) FOR A PETITION FILED BY A LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES, THE COURT SHALL DETERMINE THAT A SUFFICIENT REASONABLE, GOOD
FAITH EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO IDENTIFY THE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS OF THE
PARENT IF THE PETITIONER SHOWS, BY AFFIDAVIT OR TESTIMONY, THAT INQUIRIES
WERE MADE AFTER THE PETITION WAS FILED, OR WITHIN THE 6 MONTHS
PRECEDING THE FILING OF THE PETITION, WITH THE FOLLOWING:

(I)      THE STATE MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION;

(II)     THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES;

(III)   THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
CORRECTIONS;

(IV)   THE STATE DIVISION OF PAROLE AND PROBATION;

(V)     THE DETENTION CENTER FOR THE LOCAL JURISDICTION IN
WHICH THE PETITION IS FILED;

(VI)   THE RECORDS OF THE JUVENILE COURT FOR THE
JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE PETITION IS FILED;

(VII)  A PARTICULAR SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY OR DETENTION
FACILITY, IF THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT IS AWARE THAT THE PARENT HAS RECEIVED
BENEFITS FROM THAT SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY, OR HAS BEEN CONFINED IN THAT
DETENTION FACILITY, WITHIN THE 9 MONTHS PRECEDING THE FILING OF THE
PETITION; AND

(VIII)  EACH OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS THAT THE
PETITIONER IS ABLE TO LOCATE AND CONTACT:

1. THE OTHER PARENT OF THE CHILD;
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