Maryland Family Law Section 5-507
§ 5-507.
CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall be licensed by the Administration as a child placement agency before the person may engage in the placement of minor children in homes or with individuals.
(b) A license is not required:
(1) for a person to place a child with an individual related to the child by blood or marriage within 4 degrees of consanguinity or affinity under the civil law rule;
(2) except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, for a parent or grandparent of a child to place the child directly, without the intervention of any other person except the recipient of the child; or
(3) for a lawyer to prepare pleadings necessary to accomplish the adoption of a child or to perform any other function associated with the normal practice of law.
(c) A parent or grandparent may not place a child for adoption without a license unless, before the placement is made:
(1) a petition for adoption is filed in court; and
(2) the court, by order, sanctions the placement pending final action on the petition.
** SPECIAL NOTE: EFFECTIVE - JANUARY 1, 2006 - CHAPTER 464 - 2005 **
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall be licensed by the Administration as a child placement agency before the person may engage in the placement of minor children in homes or with individuals.
(b) A license is not required:
(1) for a person to place a child with an individual related to the child by blood or marriage within 4 degrees of consanguinity or affinity under the civil law rule;
(2) except as provided in § 5-3B-12 of this title, for a parent or grandparent of a child to place the child directly, without the intervention of any other person except the recipient of the child; or
(3) for a lawyer to prepare pleadings necessary to accomplish the adoption of a child or to perform any other function associated with the normal practice of law.
