Md. Code, Family Law § 14-303
This is the official text of Md. Code, Family Law § 14-303, part of Maryland’s Code, Family Law — governs marriage, divorce, child custody and support, and adoption.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§14–303.
Official statutory text
(a) To protect the welfare of the alleged vulnerable adult the local department shall begin a thorough investigation:
(1) within 5 working days after the receipt of the report of suspected abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation; or
(2) within 24 hours after the receipt of the report of suspected abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation if the report indicates that an emergency exists.
(b) The investigation shall include:
(1) a determination of whether:
(i) the individual is a vulnerable adult; and
(ii) there has been abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation; and
(2) if the individual is determined to be a vulnerable adult and to have suffered abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation:
(i) a determination of the nature, extent, and cause of the abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation;
(ii) a determination of the identity of the person or persons responsible for the abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation;
(iii) an evaluation of the home environment; and
(iv) a determination of any other pertinent facts.
(c) (1) On request by the local department, the local State’s Attorney or the appropriate law enforcement agency shall assist in the investigation.
(2) As appropriate, the local office on aging or the Department of Aging, local geriatric evaluation service, or any other public or private agency, including a fiduciary institution, providing services or care to the alleged vulnerable adult or whose information or expertise may be of assistance in assessing risk or planning services may assist in the investigation on the request by the local department.
(3) As appropriate in an investigation, the local department may request the assistance of a federal law enforcement officer, as defined in § 2–104 of the Criminal Procedure Article.
(4) Any agencies set out in this subsection may jointly agree to cooperative arrangements for investigation.
(d) An investigation under this section shall be completed within:
(1) 60 days; or
(2) 10 days if the report indicates that an emergency exists.
(e) Parties participating in an investigation may share pertinent client information relevant to the investigation.
(1) within 5 working days after the receipt of the report of suspected abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation; or
(2) within 24 hours after the receipt of the report of suspected abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation if the report indicates that an emergency exists.
(b) The investigation shall include:
(1) a determination of whether:
(i) the individual is a vulnerable adult; and
(ii) there has been abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation; and
(2) if the individual is determined to be a vulnerable adult and to have suffered abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation:
(i) a determination of the nature, extent, and cause of the abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation;
(ii) a determination of the identity of the person or persons responsible for the abuse, neglect, self–neglect, or exploitation;
(iii) an evaluation of the home environment; and
(iv) a determination of any other pertinent facts.
(c) (1) On request by the local department, the local State’s Attorney or the appropriate law enforcement agency shall assist in the investigation.
(2) As appropriate, the local office on aging or the Department of Aging, local geriatric evaluation service, or any other public or private agency, including a fiduciary institution, providing services or care to the alleged vulnerable adult or whose information or expertise may be of assistance in assessing risk or planning services may assist in the investigation on the request by the local department.
(3) As appropriate in an investigation, the local department may request the assistance of a federal law enforcement officer, as defined in § 2–104 of the Criminal Procedure Article.
(4) Any agencies set out in this subsection may jointly agree to cooperative arrangements for investigation.
(d) An investigation under this section shall be completed within:
(1) 60 days; or
(2) 10 days if the report indicates that an emergency exists.
(e) Parties participating in an investigation may share pertinent client information relevant to the investigation.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Dealing with a family matter in Maryland?
See all Maryland Family lawyers
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.