Md. Code, Family Law § 5-3A-19
This is the official text of Md. Code, Family Law § 5-3A-19, 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.
§5–3A–19.
Official statutory text
(a) (1) Consent of a parent may include a waiver of the right to notice of:
(i) the filing of a petition under this subtitle; and
(ii) further proceedings under this subtitle.
(2) Consent to guardianship is not valid unless the consent:
(i) is given after the child for whom guardianship is sought is born;
(ii) is given in a language that the party understands;
(iii) if given in a language other than English:
1. is given before a judge on the record; or
2. is accompanied by the affidavit of a translator stating that the translation of the document of consent is accurate;
(iv) contains an express notice of:
1. the right to revoke consent, at any time within 30 days after the person signs the consent, unless the revocation is barred under subsection (b)(2) of this section;
2. the search rights of adoptees and parents under § 5-3A-42 of this subtitle and the search rights of adoptees, parents, and siblings under Subtitle 4B of this title; and
3. the right to file a disclosure veto under § 5-3A-42 of this subtitle; and
(v) is accompanied by an affidavit of counsel appointed under § 5-3A-07(a) of this subtitle stating that a parent who is a minor or has a disability consents knowingly and voluntarily.
(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may revoke consent to guardianship at any time within 30 days after the person signs the consent.
(2) A parent may not revoke consent for guardianship of a child if:
(i) in the preceding year, the parent has revoked consent for or filed a notice of objection to guardianship of the child; and
(ii) the child is at least 30 days old and consent is given before a judge on the record.
(c) If a petitioner becomes aware, before a court rules on a petition, that a condition of consent under § 5-3A-18(b) of this subtitle cannot be fulfilled, the petitioner promptly shall:
(1) file notice with the court;
(2) give notice to all of the other parties;
(3) if consent was received from a governmental unit or person who is not a party, give notice to that unit or person; and
(4) (i) if the unit or person enters into a new consent, file the consent with the court; or
(ii) if the unit or person fails to enter into a new consent, dismiss the petition.
(i) the filing of a petition under this subtitle; and
(ii) further proceedings under this subtitle.
(2) Consent to guardianship is not valid unless the consent:
(i) is given after the child for whom guardianship is sought is born;
(ii) is given in a language that the party understands;
(iii) if given in a language other than English:
1. is given before a judge on the record; or
2. is accompanied by the affidavit of a translator stating that the translation of the document of consent is accurate;
(iv) contains an express notice of:
1. the right to revoke consent, at any time within 30 days after the person signs the consent, unless the revocation is barred under subsection (b)(2) of this section;
2. the search rights of adoptees and parents under § 5-3A-42 of this subtitle and the search rights of adoptees, parents, and siblings under Subtitle 4B of this title; and
3. the right to file a disclosure veto under § 5-3A-42 of this subtitle; and
(v) is accompanied by an affidavit of counsel appointed under § 5-3A-07(a) of this subtitle stating that a parent who is a minor or has a disability consents knowingly and voluntarily.
(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may revoke consent to guardianship at any time within 30 days after the person signs the consent.
(2) A parent may not revoke consent for guardianship of a child if:
(i) in the preceding year, the parent has revoked consent for or filed a notice of objection to guardianship of the child; and
(ii) the child is at least 30 days old and consent is given before a judge on the record.
(c) If a petitioner becomes aware, before a court rules on a petition, that a condition of consent under § 5-3A-18(b) of this subtitle cannot be fulfilled, the petitioner promptly shall:
(1) file notice with the court;
(2) give notice to all of the other parties;
(3) if consent was received from a governmental unit or person who is not a party, give notice to that unit or person; and
(4) (i) if the unit or person enters into a new consent, file the consent with the court; or
(ii) if the unit or person fails to enter into a new consent, dismiss the petition.
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.