Adoption is a court procedure by which an adult legally becomes the parent of someone who is not his or her biological child. Adoption creates a parent-child relationship recognized for all purposes -- including child support obligations, inheritance rights and custody. The birthparents' legal relationship to the child is terminated, unless a legal contract allows the birthparents to retain or share some rights, or the adoption is a stepparent adoption, in which case only the parent without custody loses parental rights.
Statutes Citation: Maryland Statutes (1999) Family Law, Sections 5-301 to 5-330; 5-401 to 5-415; 5-4A-01 to 5-4A-08; 5-4B-01 to 5-4B-12; 5-4C-01 to 5-4C-07. Child Support
