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Terms Used In Maryland Code, FAMILY LAW 5-502

  • Adult: means an individual at least 18 years old. See
  • minor: means an individual under the age of 18 years. See
  • state: means :

    (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

    (2) the District of Columbia. See
(a) The General Assembly declares that:

(1) minor children are not capable of protecting themselves; and

(2) when a parent has relinquished the care of the parent’s minor child to others, there is a possibility of certain risks to the child that require compensating measures.

(b) It is the policy of this State:

(1) to protect minor children whose care has been relinquished to others by the children’s parent;

(2) to resolve doubts in favor of the child when there is a conflict between the interests of a minor child and the interests of an adult; and

(3) to encourage the development of child care services for minor children in a safe, healthy, and homelike environment.