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Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law § 5-3B-16

Redline — January 1, 2019 → current.View current text →
Current — January 1, 2026
As of January 1, 2019
(a) Before ruling on a consensual adoption petition under § 5-3B-20(1) of this subtitle, a court may order any investigation that the court considers necessary.
(a) Except as provided in § 5–3B–27 of this subtitle and subject to subsection (c) of this section, before ruling on a consensual adoption petition under § 5–3B–20(b)(1) of this subtitle, a court may order a court investigator or child placement agency to conduct any investigation that the court considers necessary.
(b) Before ruling on a nonconsensual adoption petition under §§ 5-3B-20(2) and 5–3B–22 of this subtitle, a court shall order an appropriate agency to investigate and submit a report that includes summaries of: (1) the prospective adoptee’s emotional ties with and feelings toward the prospective adoptee’s parents, the prospective adoptee’s siblings, and others who may affect the prospective adoptee’s best interests significantly; and (2) the prospective adoptee’s adjustment to: (i) community; (ii) home; and (iii) school.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, before ruling on a nonconsensual adoption petition under §§ 5–3B–20(b)(2) and 5–3B–22 of this subtitle, a court shall order a court investigator or an appropriate child placement agency to investigate and submit a report that includes summaries of: (1) the prospective adoptee’s emotional ties with and feelings toward the prospective adoptee’s parents, the prospective adoptee’s siblings, and others who may affect the prospective adoptee’s best interests significantly; and (2) the prospective adoptee’s adjustment to: (i) community; (ii) home; and (iii) school.
(c) If a prospective adoptee is an adult, the court may order an investigation under subsection (a) or (b) of this section only for good cause shown.

Official source: Maryland General Assembly. Reproduced from public-domain Maryland statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.