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RULE 10-202. CERTIFICATES AND CONSENTS

West's Annotated Code of MarylandMaryland RulesEffective: July 1, 2023

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Maryland Rules
Title 10. Guardians and Other Fiduciaries
Chapter 200. Guardian of Person
Effective: July 1, 2023
MD Rules, Rule 10-202
RULE 10-202. CERTIFICATES AND CONSENTS
Currentness
(a) Certificates.
(1) Generally Required. If guardianship of the person of a disabled person is sought, the petitioner shall file with the petition signed and verified certificates of the following persons who have examined or evaluated the alleged disabled person: (A) two physicians licensed to practice medicine in the United States, or (B) one such licensed physician and one licensed psychologist, licensed certified social worker-clinical, or nurse practitioner. An examination or evaluation by at least one of the health care professionals shall have been within 21 days before the filing of the petition.
(2) Form. Each certificate required by subsection (a)(1) of this Rule shall be substantially in the form approved by the State Court Administrator, posted on the Judiciary website, and available in the offices of the clerks of the circuit courts.
(3) Absence of Certificates.
(A) Refusal to Permit Examination. If the petition is not accompanied by the required certificate and the petition alleges that the disabled person is residing with or under the control of a person who has refused to permit examination or evaluation by a physician, psychologist, licensed certified social worker-clinical, or nurse practitioner, and that the disabled person may be at risk unless a guardian is appointed, the court shall defer issuance of a show cause order. The court shall instead issue an order requiring that the person who has refused to permit the disabled person to be examined or evaluated appear personally on a date specified in the order and show cause why the disabled person should not be examined or evaluated. The order shall be personally served on that person and on the disabled person.
(B) Appointment of Health Care Professionals by Court. If the court finds after a hearing that examinations are necessary, it shall appoint (i) two physicians or (ii) one physician and one psychologist, licensed certified social worker-clinical, or nurse practitioner to conduct the examinations or the examination and evaluation and file their reports with the court. If both health care professionals find the person to be disabled, the court shall issue a show cause order requiring the alleged disabled person to answer the petition for guardianship and shall require the petitioner to give notice pursuant to Rule 10-203. Otherwise, the petition shall be dismissed.
Cross reference: See Code, Estates and Trusts Article, § 13-705.
(b) Consent to Guardianship of a Minor.
(1) Generally. If guardianship of the person of a minor child is sought, consent of each parent shall be obtained if possible. If a parent's consent cannot be obtained because the parent cannot be contacted, located, or identified, the petitioner shall file an affidavit of attempts to contact, locate, or identify substantially in the form set forth in Rule 10-203. If the failure to obtain consent is for some other reason, an affidavit shall be filed which states why the parent's consent could not be obtained.
Cross reference: See Code, Estates and Trusts Article, § 3-702.
(2) Form of Parent's Consent to Guardianship. The parent's consent to guardianship of a minor shall be filed with the court substantially in the following form:
[CAPTION]
PARENT'S CONSENT TO GUARDIANSHIP OF A MINOR
I, __________(name of parent),__________(relationship) of__________(minor's name), a minor, declare that:
1. I am aware of the Petition of __________(petitioner's name) to become guardian of__________(minor's name).
2. I understand that the reason the guardianship is needed is
 
 
and if the need for the guardianship is expected to end before the child reaches the age of majority
 
(state time frame or date it is expected to end).
3. I believe that it is in the best interest of __________(minor's name) that the Petition for Guardianship be granted.
4. I understand that I have the right to revoke my consent at any time.
I solemnly affirm under the penalties of perjury that the contents of this document are true based on my personal knowledge.
 
 
Signature of Parent Date
 
 
 
 
Address
 
 
Telephone Number
Source: This Rule is in part derived from former Rule R73 b 1 and b 2 and is in part new.

Credits

[Adopted June 5, 1996, eff. Jan. 1, 1997. Amended Feb. 10, 1998, eff. July 1, 1998; Oct. 5, 1999, eff. Oct. 5, 1999; Nov. 12, 2003, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Dec. 4, 2007, eff. Jan. 1, 2008; Sept. 17, 2015, eff. Jan. 1, 2016; Oct. 10. 2017, eff. Jan. 1, 2018; Dec. 4, 2018, eff. Jan. 1, 2019; March 30, 2021, eff. July 1, 2021; April 1, 2023, eff. July 1, 2023.]
MD Rules, Rule 10-202, MD R GUARD AND FIDUCIARIES Rule 10-202
Current with amendments received through February 1, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document