Terms Used In Maryland Code, FAMILY LAW 5-3A-25

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
(a) Unless terminated sooner, a court retains jurisdiction over a child until the child attains 18 years of age.

(b) An order for adoption of a child terminates the child’s guardianship case.