Md. Rule 9-111 (2026)

(a) Time. The court may not enter a judgment of adoption or guardianship before the time set forth in Code, Family Law Article:

(1) § 5-336 in a Public Agency Adoption without Prior TPR;

(2) § 5-348 in a Public Agency Adoption after TPR;

(3) § 5-3A-17 in a Private Agency Guardianship;

(4) § 5-3A-33 in a Private Agency Adoption; or

(5) § 5-3B-18 in an Independent Adoption.

(b) Information from Other Court. If a required consent indicates that any revocation of the consent must be filed in a court other than the trial court, the trial court may not enter a judgment of adoption or guardianship until it has obtained from the other court a copy of all papers filed in connection with the consent or an affidavit of the clerk of the other court that no papers were filed in connection with the consent.

(c) Supplemental Report. Before entering a judgment of adoption or guardianship, the court may require a supplemental written report from the investigating officer or agency.

(d) Change of Name. If the name of the person adopted is changed, the judgment of adoption shall state the new name of the person adopted and the names of the adopting parents.

(e) Spouse or Registered Domestic Partner of Parent. If the adopting parent is the spouse or registered domestic partner of a parent of the person to be adopted, the judgment shall specifically state whether and to what extent the parental rights of the parent are affected.

(f) Judgments of Adoption--Recording. The clerk shall record each judgment of adoption entered by the juvenile court pursuant to Code, Family Law Article, § 5-352 in the adoption records of the circuit court for the county where the judgment was awarded.

(g) Notice of Adoption of Adult. In an independent adoption where the adoptee is an adult, the clerk shall send a notice of the entry of a judgment of adoption to each living parent, including each de facto parent, and each living adult child of the adoptee. The notice shall be:

(1) sent by first-class mail to the last known address provided in the petition;

(2) include the caption and case number of the case; and

(3) include a statement that the judgment has the effect set forth in Code, Family Law Article, § 5-3B-25.

Committee note: Any attempt to set aside a judgment of adoption by reason of a procedural defect shall be filed with the court within one year following entry of the judgment. See Code, Family Law Article, §§ 5-342 as to a Public Agency Adoption without Prior TPR; 5-353 as to a Public Agency Adoption after TPR; 5-3A-37 as to a Private Agency Adoption; and 5-3B-26 as to an Independent Adoption.

An adoptive relationship created by a judgment of adoption in another jurisdiction shall be given full faith and credit by the courts of this State. See Code, Family Law Article, §§ 5-305 as to a Public Agency Adoption without Prior TPR; 5-305 as to a Public Agency Adoption after TPR; 5-3A-05 as to a Private Agency Adoption; and 5-3B-04 as to an Independent Adoption.

For the legal effect of adoption of an adult, see Code, Family Law Article, §§ 5-341 as to a Public Agency Adoption without Prior TPR; 5-352 as to a Public Agency Adoption after TPR; 5-3A-36 as to a Private Agency Adoption; and 5-3B-25 as to an Independent Adoption.

Source: This Rule is derived in part from former Rule D79 and former Rule 11-501 (g) (2021) and is in part new.

Credits

[Adopted June 5, 1996, eff. Jan. 1, 1997. Amended June 4, 2007, eff. July 1, 2007; Nov. 9, 2021, eff. Jan. 1, 2022; April 5, 2024, eff. July 1, 2024; Feb. 23, 2026, eff. July 1, 2026.]