(a) In General. Any person having a right to participate in a proceeding for adoption or guardianship may file a notice of objection to the adoption or guardianship. The notice may include a statement of the reasons for the objection and a request for the appointment of an attorney. The notice may be accompanied by a request for access to case records.

Cross reference: See Rule 9-105 for Form of Notice of Objection.

(c) Service. The clerk shall serve a copy of any notice of objection and any request for access to case records on all parties and, if applicable, the child placement agency in the manner provided by Rule 1-321.

Committee note: Examples of papers as to which the court may deny access or impose conditions, such as redaction, regarding access that is granted include financial records, personal identifying information, and a home study conducted by a child placement agency.

(e) Hearing. If any party files a response, the court shall hold a hearing promptly on the issues raised in the response.

(f) Determination; Access to Records. After expiration of the time to file any response under subsections (d)(1) and (d)(2), as applicable, the court shall (1) determine whether the person filing the notice of objection has standing to do so and whether the notice of objection was timely filed and (2) if so and a request for access to records was filed, enter an order permitting the person to inspect all or certain specified papers filed in the proceeding. An order permitting inspection may include reasonable conditions on access to papers as to which inspection is permitted. The court may amend an order entered pursuant to this section at any time on its own initiative or on request of a party.

Committee note: When MDEC system limitations for electronically filed papers cannot prevent access in excess of that which is ordered by the court under section (f) of this Rule, the order should specify provisions for facilitating the permitted access. Examples of such provisions include requiring a party or child placement agency to provide a redacted document to the court and requiring the clerk to provide access to a paper copy of the redacted document and each additional specified document or part thereof as to which inspection is permitted.