1. (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.

2. (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. (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. (2) the prospective adoptee's adjustment to:

      1. (i) community;
      2. (ii) home; and
      3. (iii) school.
3. (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.

Added by Acts 2005, c. 464, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2006. Amended by Acts 2006, c. 365, § 2, eff. June 1, 2006; Acts 2019, c. 437, § 1, eff. June 1, 2019; Acts 2019, c. 438, § 1, eff. June 1, 2019; Acts 2025, c. 501, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.