Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C. Probate Code § 9-102. Definitions

1. Adoptee. “Adoptee” means a person who will be or who has been adopted, regardless of whether the person is a child or an adult.

2. Adult. “Adult” means a person who is 18 years of age or older.

3. Child. “Child” means a person who is under 18 years of age.

4. Consent. “Consent,” used as a noun, means a voluntary agreement to an adoption by a specific petitioner that is executed by a parent or custodian of the adoptee.

5. Department. “Department” means the Department of Health and Human Services.

6. Licensed child-placing agency. “Licensed child-placing agency” means an agency, person, group of persons, organization, association or society licensed to operate in this State pursuant to Title 22, chapter 1671.

7. Parent. “Parent” means a person who, with respect to a child:

8. Petitioner. “Petitioner” means a person filing a petition to adopt an adult or a child, and includes both petitioners under a joint petition, except as otherwise provided in this Article.

9. Putative parent. “Putative parent” means a person who is the alleged parent of a child but whose parentage has not been but may be legally determined in accordance with Title 19-A, chapter 61.

10. Surrender and release. “Surrender and release,” used as a noun, means a voluntary relinquishment of all parental rights to a child to the department or a licensed child-placing agency for the purpose of placement for adoption.