Maryland

Who may adopt?
Any adult, regardless of marital status.

Consent for adoption to be executed?
Not addressed in statutes reviewed.

Revocation of consent?
Consent may be revoked within 30 days by an individual or an agency.

Who may place a child for adoption?
The birth parent(s).
A child placement agency that has been awarded guardianship.

Advertising?
This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Facilitators?
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:

Placement of an individual to live with a preadoptive family
An agreement for custody in contemplation of adoption
This section does not prohibit payment, by an interested person, of a reasonable and customary charge or fee for adoption counseling, hospital, legal, or medical services.

Putative Father's Registry?
No. The natural father is entitled to notice of the filing of an adoption petition.
The natural father must acknowledge himself to be the father, orally or in writing, and the natural mother must agree that he is the father.
Failure to receive a response to a petition filed by the local department within 30 days shall be deemed a negative response, if reasonable efforts were made to locate the putative father.

Expenses?
Birth parent –
Reasonable and customary charges or fees for hospital or
medical or legal services.

Department/Agency –
The Social Services Administration or licensed agency may receive reimbursement for costs of adoptive services.

Information provided in part by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Credits: Sandra Hanks Benoiton