Section 5-321 - Consent.
§ 5-321. Consent.
(a) Contents and attachments.-
(1) Consent of a parent to guardianship may include a waiver of the right to notice of:
(i) the filing of a petition under this subtitle; and
(ii) a hearing under this subtitle.
(2) Consent to guardianship entered into before a judge on the record shall include a waiver of a revocation period.
(3) Consent of a party to guardianship is not valid unless:
(i) the consent is given in a language that the party understands;
(ii) if given in a language other than English, the consent:
1. is given before a judge on the record; or
2. is accompanied by the affidavit of a translator stating that the translation of the document of consent is accurate;
(iii) the party has received written notice or on the record notice before a judge of:
1. the revocation provisions in subsections (a)(2) and (c)(1) of this section;
2. the search rights of adoptees and parents under § 5-359 of this subtitle and the search rights of adoptees, parents, and siblings under Subtitle 4B of this title; and
3. the right to file a disclosure veto under § 5-359 of this subtitle;
(iv) if signed after counsel enters an appearance for a parent, the consent is accompanied by an affidavit of counsel stating that:
1. counsel reviewed the consent with the parent; and
2. the parent consents knowingly and voluntarily; and
(v) the consent is accompanied by an affidavit of counsel appointed under § 5-307(a) of this subtitle stating that a parent who is a minor or has a disability consents knowingly and voluntarily.
(b) Copy.-
(1) Whenever a local department receives consent to guardianship of an individual before a guardianship petition is filed, the local department promptly shall:
(i) file the consent in the individual's CINA case; and
(ii) serve a copy of the consent on:
1. each living parent of the individual;
2. the parent's last attorney of record in the CINA case; and
3. the individual's last attorney of record in the CINA case.
(2) Whenever a party obtains consent to guardianship after a guardianship petition is filed, the party promptly shall:
(i) file the consent with the juvenile court in which the petition is pending; and
(ii) serve a copy of the consent on each other party.
(c) Revocation period; waiver.-
(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may revoke consent to guardianship any time within the later of:
(i) 30 days after the person signs the consent; or
(ii) 30 days after the consent is filed as required under this section.
(2) Consent to guardianship under subsection (a)(2) of this section is irrevocable.
(d) Invalidation of conditional consent or acquiescence.- If, at any time before a juvenile court enters an order for adoption of a child, the juvenile court finds that a condition of consent to guardianship will not be fulfilled, the consent or acquiescence becomes invalid.
[2005, ch. 464, § 3; 2006, ch. 365, § 2.]