Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions - Maryland

Jurisdiction

Citation: Fam. Law § 1-201

An equity court has jurisdiction over the adoption of a child, except for a child who is under the jurisdiction of any juvenile court and who previously has been adjudicated to be a child in need of assistance.

Venue

Citation: Cts. & Jud. Pro. § 6-203(e)

The venue for a proceeding for adoption of an individual who is physically within this State or subject to the jurisdiction of an equity court is in a county in which one of the following applies:

• Where the petitioner is domiciled
• Where the petitioner has resided for at least 90 days immediately prior to the filing of the petition
• Where a licensed child-placing agency having legal or physical custody of the individual is located
• Where the individual is domiciled, if the individual is related to the petitioner by blood or marriage or is an adult
• Where an equity court has continuing jurisdiction over the custody of the individual