2016 Maryland Code
Family Law
Title 5 - Children
Subtitle 3B - Independent Adoption
Part IV - Prohibited Acts.
§ 5-3B-32. Prohibited payments

(a) Prohibited act. -- Except as otherwise provided by law, a person may not charge or receive, from or for a parent or prospective adoptive parent, any compensation for a service in connection with:

(1) placement of an individual to live with a preadoptive family; or

(2) an agreement for custody in contemplation of adoption.

(b) Construction of section. -- This section does not prohibit payment, by an interested person, of:

(1) a reasonable and customary charge or fee for adoption counseling, hospital, legal, or medical services;

(2) reasonable expenses for transportation for medical care associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child;

(3) reasonable expenses for food, clothing, and shelter for a birth mother if, on written advice of a physician, the birth mother is unable to work or otherwise support herself because of medical reasons associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child; or

(4) reasonable expenses associated with any required court appearance relating to the adoption, including transportation, food, and lodging expenses.

(c) Duty of State's Attorney. -- Each State's Attorney shall enforce this section.

(d) Penalties. -- A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $ 100 or imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or both, for each offense.