Adoption services are provided to:

1. A. Effect a permanent plan, through adoption, at the earliest possible time, for a child in out-of-home placement who cannot or should not be reunited with the child’s birth parent;
2. B. Protect a child from unnecessary separation from the birth parent;
3. C. Provide, in the shortest time possible, an adoptive family who will ensure a child’s safety and well-being;
4. D. Permit adoption of a child only by individuals who are qualified for the responsibility; and
5. E. Protect, as appropriate, the confidentiality of the adoption process and share nonidentifying medical information to permit an adopted child and adoptive family to grow and develop undisturbed.

Authority: Education Article, §15-106.1; Family Law Article, Title 5, Subtitle 3, Subtitle 3A, Subtitle 3B, Subtitle 4, Subtitle 4A,
§§5-101, 5-501, 5-524, 5-525, 5-525.1, 5-525.2, and 5-530; Human Services Article, §4-207; Annotated Code of Maryland;
Ch. 444, Acts of 2007; 25 U.S.C. §§1901—1963, 42 U.S.C. §670 et seq.; 45 CFR 1355, 1356.4, and 1356.41

Effective date: December 10, 1975 (2:28 Md R. 1667)

Regulation .02B amended, D and E adopted effective December 19, 1983 (10:25 Md. R. 2266)

Regulation .02C amended effective December 2, 1977 (4:25 Md. R. 1911)

Regulation .03E amended effective November 30, 1979 (6:24 Md. R. 1918); repealed effective December 19, 1983 (10:25 Md. R. 2266)

Regulation .03-1 adopted effective December 19, 1983 (10:25 Md. R. 2266)

Regulation .04B amended effective January 5, 1977 (4:1 Md. R. 15)

Regulation .05E adopted effective April 22, 1985 (12:8 Md. R. 800)

Regulations .06 and .07C amended effective December 2, 1977 (4:25 Md. R. 1911)

Regulation .06A amended effective November 5, 1984 (11:22 Md. R. 1897)

Regulation .06D amended effective November 30, 1979 (6:24 Md. R. 1919); August 11, 1986 (13:16 Md. R. 1826)

Regulation .10 adopted effective October 6, 1986 (13:20 Md. R. 2208)

Annotation: The procedures for the termination of parental rights, as found in COMAR 07.02.12.03-1, do not impair the due process rights of a parent. Attorney General Opinion No. 83-038 (August 29, 1983)

Regulations .01—.10 repealed and new Regulations .01—.20 adopted effective February 20, 1989 (16:3 Md. R. 340)

Regulation .02B amended and Regulation .21 adopted as an emergency provision effective September 20, 1990 (17:20 Md. R. 2418); adopted permanently effective January 21, 1991 (18:1 Md. R. 27)

Regulation .04A, C amended effective December 14, 1998 (25:25 Md. R. 1831)

Regulation .05A amended effective July 4, 1994 (21:13 Md. R. 1155)

Regulation .10F amended effective March 19, 1990 (17:5 Md. R. 636)

Regulation .12A amended effective March 19, 1990 (17:5 Md. R. 636)

Regulation .12B amended effective May 6, 1996 (23:9 Md. R. 669)

Regulation .15 amended effective March 19, 1990 (17:5 Md. R. 636); July 4, 1994 (21:13 Md. R. 1155)

Regulation .20C amended effective March 19, 1990 (17:5 Md. R. 636)

Regulation .20E adopted effective July 4, 1994 (21:13 Md. R. 1155)

Chapter revised effective April 3, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 639)

Regulation .01F amended effective August 5, 2002 (29:15 Md. R. 1141)

Regulation .02B amended effective August 5, 2002 (29:15 Md. R. 1141)

Regulation .05A amended effective August 5, 2002 (29:15 Md. R. 1141)

Regulation .15 amended effective March 28, 2005 (32:6 Md. R. 935)

Regulation .15A, C amended effective August 5, 2002 (29:15 Md. R. 1141)

Regulation .15-1A, C, E amended effective August 5, 2002 (29:15 Md. R. 1141)

Regulation .15-1C, G amended effective March 28, 2005 (32:6 Md. R. 935)

Regulation .18A amended effective August 5, 2002 (29:15 Md. R. 1141)

Regulation .18C amended effective March 28, 2005 (32:6 Md. R. 935)

Regulation .21B—D amended and F adopted effective August 5, 2002 (29:15 Md. R. 1141)

Regulation .21F, G amended effective March 22, 2010 (37:6 Md. R. 476)

Regulation .21G adopted effective June 29, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 898)

Regulation .22 repealed effective August 5, 2002 (29:15 Md. R. 1141)

Regulations .01—.21 repealed and new Regulations .01—.09 adopted effective April 16, 2012 (39:7 Md. R. 490)

Regulations .01—.09 repealed and new Regulations .01—.09 adopted effective November 7, 2016 (43:22 Md. R. 1218)