Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

Do siblings have rights to visit another sibling after adoption?

About 3 years ago, I lost my parental rights to one of my five children. She was placed in my step-mother and father's care. Recently, the adoption was finalized and now my parents will not allow me or her siblings to have visitation. Even though, for the last 6 years we have had regular visits once a week. Do my daughter's brothers and sisters have any legal rights to continue visitation with their sister?


Asked on 7/27/04, 1:34 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

Re: Do siblings have rights to visit another sibling after adoption?

There is no automatic right to sibling visitation, nor is there any law which specifically authorizes visitation by siblings. However, you could file a court petition seeking it, and if a judge feels that it would be in the best interest of the child to maintain a relationship with her siblings, the judge could conceivably grant such rights.

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Answered on 7/27/04, 10:11 am
Carolyn Press Chung & Press. P.C.

Re: Do siblings have rights to visit another sibling after adoption?

Since your daughter was adopted by your step-mother and father, she is not legally considered a sibling of your other children, even though biologically she is. Unless the adoptive parents have very good reasons to keep the children apart, it is too bad to do so, but decisions about whom a child associates with are the legal right of the legal parents, and the chance of a court granting visitation rights to your other children are slim. If you have a strong argument about why it would be important for your daughter to visit with her biological siblings, you might file an action with the court and give it a try, but you will need a very compelling reason.

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Answered on 7/27/04, 1:34 pm


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