Adoptions

Adoption establishes a formal parent-child relationship for legal purposes. Once an adoption is finalized, the relationship between the parent and the child is the same as it would be if the child was a biological child of the parent. In Maryland, there are two types of adoptions: agency adoptions and private/independent adoptions. Agency adoptions can either be private or public. Independent/private adoptions include second-parent adoptions and step-parent adoptions. All adoptions must be approved by the Court.