(a) The General Assembly finds that the policies and procedures of this subtitle are desirable and socially necessary. (b) The purposes of this subtitle are to: (1) timely provide permanent and safe homes for children consistent with their best interests; (2) protect children from unnecessary separation from their parents; (3) ensure adoption only by individuals fit for the responsibility; (4) protect parents from making hurried or ill-considered agreements to terminate parental rights; (5) protect prospective adoptive parents by providing them information about prospective adoptees and their backgrounds; and (6) protect adoptive parents from a future disturbance of their relationship with adoptees by former parents.
Maryland Legal Code