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§ 5-301. Definitions

West's Annotated Code of MarylandFamily LawEffective: October 1, 2017

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Family Law (Refs & Annos)
Title 5. Children (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 3. Guardianship to and Adoption Through Local Department (Refs & Annos)
Part I. General Provisions (Refs & Annos)
Effective: October 1, 2017
MD Code, Family Law, § 5-301
§ 5-301. Definitions
Currentness
In general
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
Caregiver
(b) “Caregiver” means a person with whom a child resides and who exercises responsibility for the welfare of the child.
Child
(c) “Child” means an individual who is the subject of a guardianship or adoption petition under this subtitle.
Developmental disability
(d) “Developmental disability” has the meaning stated in § 3-801 of the Courts Article.
Guardianship
(e) “Guardianship” means an award, under this subtitle, of any power of a guardian.
Identifying information
(f) “Identifying information” means information that reveals the identity or location of an individual.
Parent
(g)(1) “Parent” means an individual who, at the time a petition for guardianship is filed under this subtitle or at any time before a court terminates the individual's parental rights:
(i) meets a criterion in § 5-306(a) of this subtitle; or
(ii) is the mother.
(2) “Parent” does not include an individual whom a court has adjudicated not to be a father or mother of a child.
Party
(h) “Party” means:
(1) in a guardianship case under this subtitle:
(i) the child;
(ii) except as provided in § 5-326(a)(3)(iii) of this subtitle, the child's parent; and
(iii) the local department to which the child is committed;
(2) in an adoption case under Part III of this subtitle:
(i) the child;
(ii) the child's parent; and
(iii) the individual seeking adoption;
(3) in an adoption case under Part IV of this subtitle:
(i) the child; and
(ii) the individual seeking adoption; and
(4) if express reference is made to a CINA case, a governmental unit or person defined as a party in § 3-801 of the Courts Article.

Credits

Added by Acts 2005, c. 464, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2006. Amended by Acts 2017, c. 655, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017.
MD Code, Family Law, § 5-301, MD FAMILY § 5-301
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document