As used in this Article, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
1.Adoptee. "Adoptee" means a person who will be or who has been adopted, regardless of whether the person is a child or an adult. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
2.Adult. "Adult" means a person who is 18 years of age or older. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
3.Child. "Child" means a person who is under 18 years of age. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
4.Consent. "Consent," used as a noun, means a voluntary agreement to an adoption by a specific petitioner that is executed by a parent or custodian of the adoptee. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
5.Department. "Department" means the Department of Health and Human Services. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
6.Licensed child-placing agency. "Licensed child-placing agency" means an agency, person, group of persons, organization, association or society licensed to operate in this State pursuant to Title 22, chapter 1671. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
7.Parent. "Parent" means a person who, with respect to a child: A. Has established parentage pursuant to Title 19-A, chapter 61; or [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]B. When no person described in paragraph A exists, is the legal guardian of the child. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).] [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
8.Petitioner. "Petitioner" means a person filing a petition to adopt an adult or a child, and includes both petitioners under a joint petition, except as otherwise provided in this Article. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
9.Putative parent. "Putative parent" means a person who is the alleged parent of a child but whose parentage has not been but may be legally determined in accordance with Title 19-A, chapter 61. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
10.Surrender and release. "Surrender and release," used as a noun, means a voluntary relinquishment of all parental rights to a child to the department or a licensed child-placing agency for the purpose of placement for adoption. [2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]
Amended by 2019, c. 417,§ B-14, eff. 6/20/2019.Added by 2018, c. 402,§ A-2, eff. 7/1/2019.