Maryland Family Law Section 5-3A-15

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

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

      (a)      On issuance of a show cause order as to guardianship of a child, a petitioner shall serve the order on each of the child's living parents who has not consented to the guardianship.

      (b)      Service under this section shall be by:

            (1)      personal service; or

            (2)      certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested.

      (c)      Service on a parent under this section shall be attempted at the parent's last address known to the petitioner.

      (d)      (1)      If a court is satisfied, by affidavit or testimony, that, after reasonable efforts in good faith, a petitioner could not identify a parent or could not effect service on a parent, the court shall order service through notice by publication as to that parent.

            (2)      Notice under this subsection shall consist of substantially the following statement:

      To: (Father's name) To: (Mother's name) To: Unknown parent

      "You are hereby notified that a guardianship case has been filed in the circuit court for (county name), case no. (number). All persons who believe themselves to be parents of a (male or female) child born on (date of birth) in (city, state) to (mother's and father's names and dates of birth) shall file a written response. A copy of the show cause order may be obtained from the clerk's office at (address) and (telephone number). If you do not file a written objection by (deadline), you will have agreed to the permanent loss of your parental rights to this child."

            (3)      Service under this subsection shall be by:

                  (i)      publication at least once in one or more newspapers in general circulation in the county where the parent last resided or, if unknown, where the petition is filed; and

                  (ii)      posting for at least 30 days on a website of the Department.

            (4)      The Department may charge a petitioner a reasonable fee to cover the cost of posting.