Maryland Family Law Section 5-303

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

      (a)      The General Assembly finds that the policies and procedures of this subtitle that concern adoption are socially necessary and desirable.

      (b)      The purposes of this subtitle are to:

            (1)      provide children with stable homes that protect their safety and health;

            (2)      protect children from unnecessary separation from their natural parents;

            (3)      permit adoption only by individuals who are fit for the responsibility;

            (4)      protect natural parents from making a hurried or ill-considered decision to give up a child; and

            (5)      protect adoptive parents:

                  (i)      by providing them information about the child and the child's background; and

                  (ii)      from a future disturbance of their relationship with the child by a natural parent.

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

      (a)      The General Assembly finds that the policies and procedures of this subtitle are desirable and socially necessary.

      (b)      The purposes of this subtitle are to:

            (1)      timely provide permanent and safe homes for children consistent with their best interests;

            (2)      protect children from unnecessary separation from their parents;

            (3)      ensure adoption only by individuals fit for the responsibility;

            (4)      protect parents from making hurried or ill-considered agreements to terminate parental rights;

            (5)      protect prospective adoptive parents by giving them information about children and their backgrounds; and

            (6)      protect adoptive parents from future disturbances of their relationships with children by former parents.