Md. Code, Family Law § 5-3B-13
This is the official text of Md. Code, Family Law § 5-3B-13, 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.
§5–3B–13.
Official statutory text
(a) Any adult or minor may be adopted under this subtitle.
(b) (1) Any adult may petition a court for adoption.
(2) If a petitioner is married and the prospective adoptee is a minor, the petitioner’s spouse shall join in the petition unless the spouse:
(i) is separated from the petitioner under a circumstance that gives the petitioner a ground for annulment or divorce;
(ii) is not competent to join in the petition; or
(iii) 1. is a parent of the prospective adoptee; and
2. has consented to the adoption in accordance with this subtitle.
(3) If the petitioner is married and the prospective adoptee is an adult, the petitioner’s spouse may join in the petition.
(c) Before a petition is filed under this subtitle, a petitioner shall move for, and a court shall order that, a case pending under Subtitle 3 of this title be closed.
(d) If the marital status of a petitioner changes before entry of an order under this subtitle, the petitioner shall amend the petition accordingly.
(b) (1) Any adult may petition a court for adoption.
(2) If a petitioner is married and the prospective adoptee is a minor, the petitioner’s spouse shall join in the petition unless the spouse:
(i) is separated from the petitioner under a circumstance that gives the petitioner a ground for annulment or divorce;
(ii) is not competent to join in the petition; or
(iii) 1. is a parent of the prospective adoptee; and
2. has consented to the adoption in accordance with this subtitle.
(3) If the petitioner is married and the prospective adoptee is an adult, the petitioner’s spouse may join in the petition.
(c) Before a petition is filed under this subtitle, a petitioner shall move for, and a court shall order that, a case pending under Subtitle 3 of this title be closed.
(d) If the marital status of a petitioner changes before entry of an order under this subtitle, the petitioner shall amend the petition accordingly.
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.