Effects of order for guardianship

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    (a)    An order for guardianship of an individual:

        (1)    except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, § 4-414 of the Estates and Trusts Article, and § 2-123 of the Real Property Article, terminates a parent’s duties, obligations, and rights toward the individual;

        (2)    eliminates the need for a further consent by a parent to adoption of the individual;

        (3)    grants a local department guardianship with the right to consent to the individual’s adoption or other planned permanent living arrangement; and

        (4)    terminates the individual’s CINA case.

    (b)    (1)    Unless a juvenile court gives legal custody to another person, a child’s guardian under this subtitle has legal custody.

        (2)    (i)    Unless a juvenile court orders otherwise and subject to review by the juvenile court, a child’s guardian may make all decisions affecting the child’s education, health, and welfare, including consenting:

                1.    to adoption of the child;

                2.    to application by the child for a driver’s license;

                3.    to enlistment by the child in the armed forces;

                4.    to marriage of the child; and

                5.    subject to subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph, to medical, psychiatric, or surgical treatment.

            (ii)    A child’s guardian:

                1.    may have the child admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility in accordance with the standards for emergency commitment in § 10-617 of the Health - General Article for not more than 20 days;

                2.    except as provided in item 1 of this subparagraph, may not place the child in an inpatient psychiatric facility without express authorization of the juvenile court.

            (iii)    1.    A child’s guardian may not withhold or withdraw a life-sustaining procedure without the prior authorization of a juvenile court.

                2.    In deciding whether to grant authorization, a juvenile court shall apply the factors set forth in § 13-711(b) of the Estates and Trusts Article.

        (3)    A local department shall notify a juvenile court, a child’s attorney, and the attorney for each other party who has not waived the right to notice:

            (i)    within 2 business days after the child’s placement changes or the time required under § 5-326(b) of this subtitle, whichever is shorter;

            (ii)    within 2 business days after the child is placed in a psychiatric facility; or

            (iii)    within 2 business days after the child is absent from a placement for more than a week.

        (4)    A local department shall give a child’s attorney the child’s new address and telephone number within 2 business days after the address or telephone number changes.


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