Terms Used In Maryland Code, FAMILY LAW 5-301

  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Caregiver” means a person with whom a child resides and who exercises responsibility for the welfare of the child.

(c) “Child” means an individual who is the subject of a guardianship or adoption petition under this subtitle.

(d) “Developmental disability” has the meaning stated in § 3-801 of the Courts Article.

(e) “Guardianship” means an award, under this subtitle, of any power of a guardian.

(f) “Identifying information” means information that reveals the identity or location of an individual.

(g) (1) “Parent” means an individual who, at the time a petition for guardianship is filed under this subtitle or at any time before a court terminates the individual’s parental rights:

(i) meets a criterion in § 5-306(a) of this subtitle; or

(ii) is the mother.

(2) “Parent” does not include an individual whom a court has adjudicated not to be a father or mother of a child.

(h) “Party” means:

(1) in a guardianship case under this subtitle:

(i) the child;

(ii) except as provided in § 5-326(a)(3)(iii) of this subtitle, the child’s parent; and

(iii) the local department to which the child is committed;

(2) in an adoption case under Part III of this subtitle:

(i) the child;

(ii) the child’s parent; and

(iii) the individual seeking adoption;

(3) in an adoption case under Part IV of this subtitle:

(i) the child; and

(ii) the individual seeking adoption; and

(4) if express reference is made to a CINA case, a governmental unit or person defined as a party in § 3-801 of the Courts Article.