Maryland Statutes
Part II - Guardianship Proceeding
Section 5-3A-23 - Guardianship Review

(a)    (1)    A child placement agency shall file a written report with a court with jurisdiction over a child whenever:
            (i)    the child placement agency fails to place the child for adoption with a preadoptive parent, as defined in § 3-823(i)(1) of the Courts Article:
                1.    within 270 days after being awarded guardianship; or
                2.    within 180 days after permanently removing the child from another placement; or
            (ii)    a court does not enter a final order of adoption within 2 years after the placement.
        (2)    A report under this subsection shall state each reason for the delay in placement or adoption.
    (b)    (1)    Whenever a child placement agency files a report under this section, the child placement agency shall mail notice of the child’s status:
            (i)    to each of the child’s living parents who has not waived the right to notice and, if represented, counsel; and
            (ii)    if a court appointed counsel for the child under this subtitle, to the child’s last attorney of record.
        (2)    A waiver of rights under this subsection is not valid unless the waiver appears expressly in:
            (i)    the parent’s consent to guardianship; and
            (ii)    the guardianship order.
    (c)    (1)    Whenever a court receives a report under this section, the court shall hold a hearing to:
            (i)    review the progress that the child placement agency has made toward adoption of the child; and
            (ii)    take all actions that the court considers to be in the child’s best interests.
        (2)    Each year after a hearing under paragraph (1) of this subsection until the court’s jurisdiction terminates, the court shall hold another review hearing.