US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

      (a)      In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

      (b)      "Child placement agency" means:

            (1)      a local department of social services; or

            (2)      a private agency that:

                  (i)      engages in the placement of children in homes or with individuals; and

                  (ii)      is licensed by the Social Services Administration under § 5-507 of this title.

      (c)      "Disability" means:

            (1)      a mental disorder, as defined in § 10-101 of the Health - General Article;

            (2)      mental retardation, as defined in § 7-101 of the Health - General Article;

            (3)      alcohol dependence, as defined in § 8-101 of the Health - General Article; or

            (4)      drug dependence, as defined in § 8-101 of the Health - General Article.

      (d)      "Father" means the man who is the birth father of a child under § 5-310 of this subtitle.

      (e)      "Guardianship" means guardianship with the right to consent to adoption or long-term care short of adoption.

      (f)      "Independent adoption" means an adoption in which the arrangement for adoption is not made by a child placement agency.

      (g)      (1)      "Joint guardianship" means limited guardianship granted to a caregiver under § 5-317 of this subtitle.

            (2)      "Joint guardianship" may include the authority to consent to medical care and make educational and other decisions for the child.

            (3)      "Joint guardianship" does not include the authority to consent to adoption or long-term care short of adoption.

      (h)      "Minor parent" means a parent who, at the time of giving consent to guardianship or adoption of the parent's child, is a minor.

      (i)      "Nonidentifying information" means any information that does not reveal the location or identity of an individual.

      (j)      "Placement for adoption" means the placement of a child to live with a family or individual approved for adoption by a child placement agency, with the intent that the child be adopted by the family or individual.

** SPECIAL NOTE: EFFECTIVE - JANUARY 1, 2006 - CHAPTER 464 - 2005 **

      (a)      In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

      (b)      "Caregiver" means a person with whom a child resides and who exercises responsibility for the welfare of the child.

      (c)      "Child" means an individual who is the subject of a guardianship or adoption petition under this subtitle.

      (d)      "Guardianship" means an award, under this subtitle, of any power of a guardian.

      (e)      "Identifying information" means information that reveals the identity or location of an individual.

      (f)      (1)      "Parent" means an individual who, at the time a petition for guardianship is filed under this subtitle or at any time before a court terminates the individual's parental rights:

                  (i)      meets a criterion in § 5-306(a) of this subtitle; or

                  (ii)      is the mother.

            (2)      "Parent" does not include an individual whom a court has adjudicated not to be a father or mother of a child.

      (g)      "Party" means:

            (1)      in a guardianship case under this subtitle:

                  (i)      the child;

                  (ii)      except as provided in § 5-326(a)(3)(iii) of this subtitle, the child's parent; and

                  (iii)      the local department to which the child is committed;

            (2)      in an adoption case under Part III of this subtitle:

                  (i)      the child;

                  (ii)      the child's parent; and

                  (iii)      the individual seeking adoption;

            (3)      in an adoption case under Part IV of this subtitle:

                  (i)      the child; and

                  (ii)      the individual seeking adoption; and

            (4)      if express reference is made to a CINA case, a governmental unit or person defined as a party in § 3-801 of the Courts Article.