ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 7

Section 5-314(a), 5-4B-01(f), 5-4B-02(a), 5-4B-05, and 5-4B-12

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1999 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - Family Law

Section 5-4B-01(g)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1999 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

5-314.

(a) The consent of a natural parent to either an adoption or guardianship of a
child is not valid unless the consent contains an express notice of:

(1)     the right to revoke consent under § 5-311 or § 5-317 of this subtitle;

(2)     the search rights of adopted individuals and biological parents under
[Subtitles 3A and 4B] SUBTITLE 3A of this title AND THE SEARCH RIGHTS OF
ADOPTED INDIVIDUALS, BIOLOGICAL PARENTS, AND SIBLINGS UNDER SUBTITLE 4B
OF THIS TITLE; and

(3)     the right to file a disclosure veto under § 5-3A-05 of this title.
5-4B-01.

(f) "Search, contact, and reunion services" means services:

(1)     to locate adopted individuals [and], biological parents of adopted
individuals, AND SIBLINGS OF ADOPTED INDIVIDUALS;

(2)     to assess the mutual desire for communication or disclosure of
information between adopted individuals and biological parents of adopted
individuals OR BETWEEN ADOPTED INDIVIDUALS AND SIBLINGS OF ADOPTED
INDIVIDUALS; and

(3)     to provide, or provide referral to, counseling for adopted individuals
[and], biological parents of adopted individuals, AND SIBLINGS OF ADOPTED
INDIVIDUALS.

(G) "SIBLING" MEANS A BROTHER OR SISTER OF THE WHOLE OR HALF BLOOD
WHO:

(1)      IS AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD; AND

(2)      HAS BEEN ADOPTED.

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