Md. Code, Family Law § 5-4B-01
This is the official text of Md. Code, Family Law § 5-4B-01, 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.
§5–4B–01.
Official statutory text
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b) “Administration” means the Social Services Administration of the Department.
(c) “Confidential intermediary” means an individual or child placement agency qualified by the Director for the purpose of providing search, contact, and reunion services under this subtitle.
(d) “Director” means the Director of the Administration.
(e) “Member of the adoptive family” means an adoptive parent, grandparent, brother, or sister of an adopted individual.
(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, “relative” means a parent, brother, sister, child, aunt, or uncle of a biological parent.
(2) In the case of a minor in out–of–home placement who was adopted through a local department, “relative” means an individual at least 21 years old who is related to the minor by blood or marriage within five degrees of consanguinity or affinity under the civil law rule.
(g) “Search, contact, and reunion services” means services:
(1) to locate adopted individuals, biological parents of adopted individuals, siblings of adopted individuals, and, as provided in § 5–4B–11 of this subtitle, relatives and members of the adoptive family;
(2) to assess the mutual desire for communication or disclosure of information:
(i) between adopted individuals and biological parents of adopted individuals;
(ii) between adopted individuals and siblings of adopted individuals; and
(iii) as provided in § 5–4B–11 of this subtitle, between:
1. adopted individuals and relatives; and
2. biological parents and members of the adoptive family;
(3) to provide, or provide referral to, counseling for adopted individuals, biological parents of adopted individuals, siblings of adopted individuals, relatives, and members of the adoptive family;
(4) if siblings of a minor in out–of–home placement were adopted through a local department, to contact the siblings to develop a placement resource or facilitate a family connection with the siblings of the minor; and
(5) if a minor in out–of–home placement was adopted through a local department and a local department has determined that reunification with the minor’s adoptive parents is not in the minor’s best interests, to contact relatives of the minor to develop a placement resource or facilitate a family connection with the relatives.
(h) “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.
(b) “Administration” means the Social Services Administration of the Department.
(c) “Confidential intermediary” means an individual or child placement agency qualified by the Director for the purpose of providing search, contact, and reunion services under this subtitle.
(d) “Director” means the Director of the Administration.
(e) “Member of the adoptive family” means an adoptive parent, grandparent, brother, or sister of an adopted individual.
(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, “relative” means a parent, brother, sister, child, aunt, or uncle of a biological parent.
(2) In the case of a minor in out–of–home placement who was adopted through a local department, “relative” means an individual at least 21 years old who is related to the minor by blood or marriage within five degrees of consanguinity or affinity under the civil law rule.
(g) “Search, contact, and reunion services” means services:
(1) to locate adopted individuals, biological parents of adopted individuals, siblings of adopted individuals, and, as provided in § 5–4B–11 of this subtitle, relatives and members of the adoptive family;
(2) to assess the mutual desire for communication or disclosure of information:
(i) between adopted individuals and biological parents of adopted individuals;
(ii) between adopted individuals and siblings of adopted individuals; and
(iii) as provided in § 5–4B–11 of this subtitle, between:
1. adopted individuals and relatives; and
2. biological parents and members of the adoptive family;
(3) to provide, or provide referral to, counseling for adopted individuals, biological parents of adopted individuals, siblings of adopted individuals, relatives, and members of the adoptive family;
(4) if siblings of a minor in out–of–home placement were adopted through a local department, to contact the siblings to develop a placement resource or facilitate a family connection with the siblings of the minor; and
(5) if a minor in out–of–home placement was adopted through a local department and a local department has determined that reunification with the minor’s adoptive parents is not in the minor’s best interests, to contact relatives of the minor to develop a placement resource or facilitate a family connection with the relatives.
(h) “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.
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.