Court Opinion

ID: 9647929
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 13:55:20.87583+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:23:59.219559
License: Public Domain

ELDRIDGE, Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
I concur with the majority’s decision reversing the judgments of the Court of Special Appeals and the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. I also agree with the majority that on remand the circuit court’s “foremost consideration ... should be a determination of whether adoption at this time would be in the best interests of this child.” I disagree, however, with the other “directives]” issued to the circuit court. Compliance with such directives might result in a decision which is inconsistent with the best interests of the child.
Furthermore, I see no need for much of the majority’s discussion and conclusions concerning independent adoptions, the “Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children,” and various policy matters which are more appropriately the business of the General Assembly. In its present posture, this case is no different from any other circuit court child adoption proceeding governed by the Maryland statutory provisions and by this Court’s decisions regarding petitions for adoption. As in other child adoption cases, the circuit court’s authority is either to grant or to deny the adoption petition based upon the circuit court’s determination of the best interests of the child. See, e.g., In re Adoption No. 9979, 323 Md. 39, 58-59, 591 A.2d 468, 477-478 (1991) (concurring opinion); In re Lynn M., 312 Md. 461, 463, 540 A.2d 799, 800 (1988); Lippy v. Breidenstein, 249 Md. 415, 420, 240 A.2d 251, 254 (1968); Walker v. Gardner, 221 Md. 280, 284, 157 A.2d 273, 275 (1960); King v. Shandrowski, 218 Md. 38, 43, 145 A.2d 281, 284 (1958); Ex parte Anderson, 199 Md. 316, 322, 86 A.2d 516, 519 (1952); Waller v. Ellis, 169 Md. 15, 23, 179 A. 289, 293 *426(1935) (“the whole purpose of the [adoption] statute is to insure the welfare of the infant”).
The circuit court dismissed the adoption petition in this case because of the court’s conclusion that the child had been “placed” with the petitioners in violation of the so-called “Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children” (ICPC).1 The majority opinion, while disagreeing with the circuit court, assumes without any discussion that the ICPC applies to “placements” which are preliminary to independent adoptions. The majority further assumes that a child “placement” in violation of the ICPC has major relevance in a later petition for adoption filed in a circuit court. The first assumption by the majority concerns a matter on which there appears to be a substantial difference of opinion. The second assumption has no support in either the language of the ICPC or the adoption statutes, is contrary to settled Maryland law regarding petitions for adoption, and is inconsistent with the weight of authority.
I.
The Supreme Court of Wyoming, in the case of In re Adoption of MM, 652 P.2d 974, 981 (Wyo.1982), flatly held" that the ICPC was inapplicable to “placements” in connection with independent adoptions like that sought in the present case. Unlike the present case where no parties are challenging the requested adoption, the Wyoming case was an appeal by the natural mother from an adoption decree. The natural mother, while pregnant and residing in New York, arranged through a mutual acquaintance to have her child given to a Wyoming couple for adoption. When the *427child was born, the Wyoming couple travelled to New York, were given the child, and returned with the baby to Wyoming. Sometime later the natural mother changed her mind and filed an objection in the Wyoming adoption proceedings. One of the grounds for her objection was that there had been no compliance with the ICPC. Both New York and Wyoming had adopted the ICPC in substantially identical language, which is essentially the same as Maryland’s language. See Maryland Code (1984, 1991 Cum. Supp.), §§ 5-601 through 5-611 of the Family Law Article. In holding the ICPC inapplicable, the Supreme Court of Wyoming stated (652 P.2d at 981):
“We finally consider the Interstate Compact on Placement of Children, § 14-5-101 et seq., W.S.1977 and § 374-a, New York Social Services Law, McKinney’s Consolidated Laws of New York, Annotated. As pointed out by SKMD, the Wyoming and New York forms are substantially identical. We agree with the trial judge that it is inapplicable. The terminology lacks cohesion with and is not adaptable to an adoption arranged privately between the consenting natural parent and the adopting parents. We find nothing in the adoption laws of Wyoming which refers to the custody by adopting parents as a ‘placement.’ Placement is defined in the compact, § 14-5-101, 1(d):
‘(d) “Placement” means the arrangement for the care of a child in a family free or boarding home or in a child-caring agency or institution but does not include any institution caring for the mentally ill, mentally defective or epileptic or any institution primarily educational in character, or a hospital or other medical facility.’[2]
“While reference in § 14-5-101, 11(a) of the compact is made to ‘placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption,’ that does not fit into the circumstances *428here, where the natural parent delivered the child to the adopting parents under a consent affidavit which stated that she ‘does hereby give her consent to the adoption’ of her child. There was no ‘placement’ preliminary to a ‘possible’ adoption. There was relinquishment for adoption, a positive, not potential act.”
The Supreme Court of Wyoming also relied on the fact that the only penalty provision in the ICPC, apart from its reference to a potential criminal penalty, was “the suspension or revocation of any license, permit, or other legal authorization held by the sending agency which empowers or allows it to place, or care for children.” The Wyoming court then observed (652 P.2d at 981):
“It is hardly possible that a natural parent needs a license or a permit to have a child and give her consent to adoption.”
Finally, the Supreme Court of Wyoming relied on the lack of any language creating a nexus between the ICPC and the grant of a petition for adoption, saying (:ibid.):
“There is no provision in the adoption laws requiring compliance with the compact before a decree of adoption can be sought or entered. We just simply cannot find nexus between the circumstances here and the compact. There is no legislative intent present which makes the compact pari materia with the statutory law of adoption. Such intent is necessary. Sanches v. Sanches, Wyo., 626 P.2d 61 (1981). It is our view that the compact is applicable only to those engaged in the governmental or private service of placing children for care.”
See also In re Adoption of Baby Boy W, 701 S.W.2d 534, 542 (Mo.App.1985) (suggesting that the ICPC may not apply to a private placement for adoption which does not involve an agency). See, in addition, In re Adoption of C.L.W., 467 So.2d 1106, 1111 (Fla.App.1985); The Daily Record, October 6, 1988, p. 6 (indicating that some “Maryland adoption specialists” disagree with the view of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County that the ICPC applies to independent adoptions).
*429As indicated previously, the provisions of the Wyoming ICPC on which the Wyoming Supreme Court relied are the same as the provisions of the Maryland ICPC. Consequently, the reasoning of the Wyoming court is fully applicable to the Maryland ICPC. Moreover, there is an additional reason under Maryland law for holding that the phrase in the ICPC regarding “placement in foster care or as preliminary to a possible adoption”3 refers only to agency placements. The General Assembly of Maryland, in the adoption statutes, has specifically defined the phrase “[placement for adoption” to mean a placement “by a child placement agency.” Code (1984, 1991 Cum.Supp.), § 5-301(h) of the Family Law Article.4
Even Professor Hartfield, on whose law review article the majority places such great reliance, and who takes the position that the ICPC does apply where no agency is involved, acknowledges that there are questions concerning the issue, that “the ICPC was drafted as if the sending agency would in fact be an agency or court, not an individual,” and that “public and private child placing agencies ... comprise the group at which the ICPC is directed.” B. Hartfield, The Role of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children in Interstate Adoption, 68 Neb. L.Rev. 292, 316, 319 (1989).
In sum, I believe that the ICPC is inapplicable to a *430“placement” in connection with an independent adoption.5 6
n.
Assuming arguendo that the ICPC applies to interstate placements for the purpose of adoption, and further assuming arguendo that there was a violation of the ICPC in connection with the initial placement of the baby with the petitioners, the issue in this case then concerns the relevance of such violation in a later circuit court adoption proceeding.
■ A.
First, it is clear that any violation of the ICPC in the sending State of Virginia, or any violation of Virginia law, is irrelevant once the child is in Maryland and an adoption proceeding has been filed in a Maryland court. See, e.g., In re Adoption of C.L. W., supra, 467 So.2d at 1111 (“A court generally applies its own state law in determining whether to grant an adoption”); Matter of Male Child Bom July 15, 1985, 221 Mont. 309, 718 P.2d 660, 664 (1986) (“Whether or not [the sending State of Montana’s law was violated] is irrelevant to the child’s adoption in Idaho”); State of Fla., DHRS v. Thornton, 396 S.E.2d 475, 481-482 (W.Va.1990). See also B. Hartfield, supra, at 315-318 (the ICPC “requires compliance with the child placement laws of the *431receiving state, but nowhere does the ICPC contain a parallel requirement of compliance with the child placement laws of the sending state”). Moreover, it is settled that “[a] court applies its own local law in determining whether to grant an adoption.” Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 289 (1971).
The majority opinion in the instant case, at one point, seems to agree that any violation of Virginia law in this case should not be considered in determining whether the petition for adoption should be granted. At the same time, the majority devotes considerable space to the Virginia law and concludes that the petitioners in this case “obstructed Virginia’s legitimate right and obligation to oversee the welfare of its citizens____” The majority also, in its discussion of consent, seems to express agreement with Virginia’s policy of refusing to permit confidentiality in independent adoptions and directs that “[o]n remand, the petitioners for adoption should establish to the satisfaction of the court that they are in fact the persons to whom the natural parents directed their consents to adoption.” The position of the majority is directly contrary to Maryland’s public policy which strongly favors confidentiality in adoptions without distinguishing between agency and independent adoptions. See the various Maryland statutes cited in the majority opinion, 324 Md. at 417-420, 597 A.2d at 468-469.
In my view, the majority’s action in giving effect to Virginia public policy, and its directive concerning consent, is inconsistent with the principle under the ICPC that a violation of the sending state’s law and policy is irrelevant in an adoption proceeding in the receiving state. In addition, it violates the settled rule that the law and policy of Maryland govern an adoption petition filed by residents of Maryland in a Maryland court to adopt a child residing in Maryland.6
*432B.
The majority also takes the position that the petitioners violated the ICPC in Maryland by bringing the child into this State without the approval of the Maryland compact office. The majority then states:
“In the face of ICPC violation, a circuit court is not limited to granting the adoption without ICPC approval or denying the petition for adoption. It may consider other alternatives, including requiring retroactive ICPC compliance____ Obviously, to simply grant an adoption without compact approval undermines the effectiveness of the ICPC. We therefore reject this option absent extraordinary circumstances.”
The majority opinion concludes that “the most appropriate course, where a child has been placed in the State of Maryland in violation of the ICPC, may be to require, whenever practicable, retroactive compliance with the compact.” The majority “direct[s] that petitioners should, to the extent practicable, retroactively comply with the terms of the ICPC.” Presumably, the majority means that there *433should be an investigation and recommendation by the Maryland compact office.
The majority’s directive that the circuit court in this adoption proceeding require retroactive compliance with the ICPC has no support in the language of the ICPC, in Maryland adoption law, or in any reported decision in an adoption case.
As indicated earlier, the ICPC deals with the placement of children, not with adoptions. The initial section of the ICPC, reciting the agreement and its general provisions, does not mention “adoptions.” Code (1984, 1991 Cum. Supp.), § 5-601 of the Family Law Article. Similarly, neither § 5-602 setting forth the “[pjurpose and policy” of the ICPC, nor § 5-603 containing the “definitions,” include the word “adoption.” The only place where the word “adoption” appears in the ICPC is in § 5-604(a), dealing with the “[procedure before sending [a] child into [a] state,” and requiring that the sending agency comply with the ICPC and the laws of the receiving state. Section 5-604(a) refers to a “placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption.”7 In the present case any “placement” of the child, if there was one within the meaning of the ICPC, has already occurred. As far as the adoption proceedings are concerned, it is a moot point.8 To read into the *434ICPC, which does not mention adoption proceedings or petitions for adoption, a requirement to be applied in a circuit court adoption proceeding, is judicial legislation of an extreme nature.
Just as the ICPC does not mention adoption proceedings or petitions for adoption, the Maryland adoption statutes do not contain any reference to the ICPC. Code (1984, 1991 Cum.Supp.), §§ 5-301 through 5-415 of the Family Law Article. The adoption statutes authorize and extensively regulate petitions for adoptions and adoption proceedings, including both independent and agency adoptions. There are detailed provisions and requirements concerning the rights of natural parents, consent to adoption, the withholding or revocation of consent, the fitness of those seeking to adopt, investigations, the nature of investigations, various factors associated with the welfare and the best interests of the child, etc. In light of the comprehensiveness and detail of the adoption statutes, if the General Assembly had intended that a violation of the ICPC should be relevant in the adoption proceeding, it would have said so. The absence of any reference to the ICPC in the adoption statutes, and the absence of any reference to petitions for adoption or judicial adoption proceedings in the ICPC, virtually compels the conclusion that a violation of the ICPC is irrelevant in a circuit court adoption proceeding.
*435Moreover, the majority’s directive in this case for retroactive compliance with the ICPC does not square with the adoption statutes and rules. As indicated previously, by retroactive compliance with the ICPC the majority presumably intends that the circuit court require an investigation and recommendation by the Maryland compact office. The adoption statutes, however, already provide for investigations and evaluations in connection with petitions for adoption. Code (1984, 1991 Cum.Supp.), § 5-312 of the Family Law Article. Maryland Rule D75 b authorizes the court to order investigations in an adoption proceeding even when an investigation is not required by § 5-312 of the Family Law Article. Attached to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County is the Office of the Circuit Court Investigators which conducts an investigation and submits a report in virtually all independent adoption proceedings like the one now before us. Does the majority in this case intend that there be dual investigations and reports, both by the Maryland compact office and the Office of the Circuit Court Investigators? This would be a waste of governmental resources and serve no useful purpose. Furthermore, no useful purpose would be served by substituting an investigation by the Maryland compact office for one by the Office of the Circuit Court Investigators. It is obviously the latter Office which has the experience and which, under the law, is supposed to conduct pre-adoption investigations for the circuit court.
This Court has pointed out on numerous occasions that adoption is not a common law proceeding; it exists entirely because of statutes and is governed by the adoption statutes. See, e.g., Stambaugh v. Child Support Admin., 323 Md. 106, 110, 591 A.2d 501, 503 (1991); In re Adoption No. 9979, supra, 323 Md. at 43, 58, 591 A.2d at 470, 477; Carroll County v. Edelmann, 320 Md. 150, 171-176, 577 A.2d 14, 24-26 (1990); In re Lynn M., supra, 312 Md. at 463, 540 A.2d at 800; McGarvey v. State, 311 Md. 233, 236, 533 A.2d 690, 691 (1987); Bridges v. Nicely, 304 Md. 1, 4, 497 A.2d 142, 143 (1985). As stated in Spencer v. Franks, *436173 Md. 73, 81, 195 A. 306, 309 (1937), in an adoption proceeding “the measure of the chancellor’s authority is the [adoption] statute.” See Dawson v. Eversberg, 257 Md. 308, 312, 262 A.2d 729, 731 (1970); Anderson v. Barkman, 195 Md. 94, 98-99, 72 A.2d 709, 711 (1950); Ex parte Lagumis, 186 Md. 97, 102, 46 A.2d 189, 191 (1946); Alston v. Thomas, 161 Md. 617, 621, 158 A. 24, 25-26 (1932).
In addition, the statutory adoption proceeding involves a limited matter, namely the status of the person whose adoption is sought. In re Adoption No. 9979, supra, 323 Md. at 58, 591 A.2d at 477 (concurring opinion); Spencer v. Franks, supra, 173 Md. at 83, 195 A. at 310; Waller v. Ellis, supra, 169 Md. at 25, 179 A. at 293. And, as mentioned earlier, in a child adoption proceeding the underlying issue before the circuit court is whether it is in the best interests of the child to change the child’s status by granting the adoption petition.
In light of the above-summarized principles, this Court has consistently taken the position that a circuit court in an adoption proceeding ordinarily should not deal with matters other than whether the adoption petition should be granted under the requirements of the adoption statutes. The Court explained in Spencer v. Franks, supra, 173 Md. at 81-82, 195 A. at 309-310, as follows: *437See In re Adoption No. 9979, supra, 323 Md. at 59-60, 591 A.2d at 478; Falck v. Chadwick, 190 Md. 461, 467, 59 A.2d 187, 189 (1948); Waller v. Ellis, supra, 169 Md. at 25, 179 A. at 293.9
*436“The power to decree an adoption did not exist at common law, and is purely a creation of statute. Hillers v. Taylor, 108 Md. 148, 155, 156, 69 A. 715 [1908]; Zimmerman v. Thomas, 152 Md. 263, 265, 136 A. 637 [1927]. So, the measure of the chancellor’s authority is the statute. The statute, however, confers jurisdiction with respect to the single subject matter of adoption, with a permitted change of the child’s name, if the petition contains a prayer to that effect. The record shows that all the requirements of the statute were satisfied for the passage of a decree declaring the minor child the adopted child of the petitioners, with a change of name. Backus v. Reynolds, 159 Md. 601, 152 A. 109 [1930]. The statute authorized no other decree____”
*437The majority’s directive in the present case that there be retroactive compliance with the ICPC is inconsistent with the holding of Spencer v. Franks, supra, and other cases. The directive is not in accordance with any requirement set forth in the adoption statutes. If the circuit court is of the view that an adoption decree, as requested by the petitioners and the natural parents, is in the child’s best interests, the court should grant the petition for adoption regardless of any retroactive compliance with the ICPC. The majority’s desire to do something about the alleged violation of the ICPC is no reason to inject the matter into this adoption case and to have the adoption decision depend on anything other than the best interests of the child. A failure to act promptly on the adoption petition in accordance with the best interests of this child, and holding the status of this child hostage in order to vindicate the ICPC, cannot be reconciled with the adoption statutes, with this Court’s opinions, or with common sense.10
*438The clear majority of cases dealing with the effect of an ICPC violation in an adoption proceeding take the position that the grant or denial of the adoption petition should depend upon the best interests of the child regardless of the earlier ICPC violation in connection with placement. Moreover, no adoption case cited by the majority, and no appellate opinion in any adoption case of which I am aware, requires retroactive compliance with the ICPC.11 For example, in State of Fla., DHRS v. Thornton, supra, 396 S.E.2d at 479-482, the Supreme Court of Appeals of . West Virginia held that even if the trial court in an adoption case concludes that there had been a violation of the ICPC, the trial court’s decision must be based on the best interest of the child. The West Virginia court went on (id. at 481-482):
“By this holding, we certainly do not mean to denigrate the ICPC or its importance. We merely recognize that when the facts of a case, such as those present here, compel the exercise of our parens patriae duty to protect a child’s best interest, that duty outweighs the competing interests of abiding by a strict and uncompromising reverence to the Compact____”
In Matter of Adoption of Calynn M.G., 137 Misc.2d 1005, 1006, 523 N.Y.S.2d 729, 730 (1987), the New York court explained:
“As often happens, children are placed from one Compact State into another without observing the Compact procedures ____ Rather than leaving this child’s future unsettled and since the natural mother’s whereabouts are unknown, the best interests of the child dictate that the child be permitted to remain with the adoptive parents in *439Nassau County and that the necessary steps be taken to finalize the adoption.”
The same court stated in another case (Matter of Adoption of Baby Boy M.G., 135 Misc.2d 252, 257, 515 N.Y.S.2d 198, 201 (1987)):
“Except for failing to get the approval of the Interstate Compact Administrator, in all other respects the petitioners have complied with New York Law.
“Based upon the record presently before it, the court finds it is at this juncture to make its determination based on the best interest of its ward and that the best interests of the child will be served by permitting him to remain with the adoptive parents in Nassau County and grants the application for adoption.”
See also Matter of Adoption of Baby “E”, 104 Misc.2d 185, 191-193, 427 N.Y.S.2d 705, 711-712 (1980). But cf. Matter of Adoption of Jon K., 141 Misc.2d 949, 953, 535 N.Y.S.2d 660, 662 (1988); Matter of Adoption of Male Infant D., 137 Misc.2d 1016, 1022-1023, 523 N.Y.S.2d 369, 373-374 (1987).12
*440Consequently, the directives contained in the majority’s opinion find little or no support in the reported adoption cases involving violations of the ICPC.
C.
Finally, I see absolutely no reason for the majority’s express directives concerning the consents of the natural parents and an opportunity to have revoked those consents. There has been no indication in this case that the consents were not voluntary or that the natural parents lacked an opportunity to revoke the consents. In fact, the matter is premature. If the investigation to be ordered by the circuit court pursuant to Rule D75 b discloses a problem in connection with the natural parents’ consents, the circuit court will then deal with it just as in any other adoption case. If the natural parents have moved and cannot be located, however, is the adoption petition to be denied because of noncompliance with the majority’s directives? Neither the provisions of the adoption statute nor this Court’s opinions furnish any support for the majority’s explicit directives regarding the natural parents’ consents.
This case should be treated like any other adoption proceeding, with the circuit court, after any investigation ordered under Rule D75 b, deciding whether or not to grant the petition in light of the best interests of the child.
Judge RODOWSKY has authorized me to state that he concurs with the views expressed herein.

. The ICPC is not an interstate compact within the meaning of Art. I, § 10, cl. 3, of the Constitution of the United States, as it has never been consented to by Congress. Instead, the ICPC apparently purports to fall within the category of what the Supreme Court has called interstate “[a]greements effected through reciprocal legislation" not requiring the approval of Congress. U.S. Steel Corp. v. Multistate Tax Comm’n, 434 U.S. 452, 470, 98 S.Ct. 799, 811, 54 L.Ed.2d 682, 700 (1978).

. Maryland Code (1984, 1991 Cum.Supp.), § 5-603(4) of the Family Law Article is identically worded.

. Code (1984, 1991 Cum.Supp.), § 5-604(a) of the Family Law Article.

. Section 5-301(h) states:
"(h) Placement for adoption.—‘Placement for adoption’ means the placement of a child to live with a family or individual approved for adoption by a child placement agency, with the intent that the child be adopted by the family or individual.”
Section 5—501(b) defines a “child placement agency” as follows:
"(b) Child placement agency.—‘Child placement agency’ means:
(1) a local department of social services; or
(2) a private agency that:
(i) engages in the placement of children in homes or with individuals; and
(ii) is licensed by the Social Services Administration under § 5-507 of this title.”

. If the ICPC is applicable to the placement of children in connection with independent adoptions, there could be serious problems under certain circumstances, particularly involving newborns. Suppose, for example, that an expectant mother in Virginia decides, at a relatively late stage in her pregnancy, to relinquish her child when it is born to a Maryland couple for the purpose of adoption. Also, suppose that the natural mother relinquishes the baby to the adopting parents as soon as it is born, believing "in the efficacy of immediate and permanent bonding for her child after birth,” D. Leavitt, Return to a Balanced View of Adoption, 19 Family Law Quarterly 141, 150 (1985). If at the time the natural mother relinquishes the baby to the adopting parents, the Maryland ICPC compact office has not completed its investigation and given its consent, are the adopting parents required to wait with the baby on the south shore of the Potomac River, unable to return to their home with the baby until the Maryland compact office acts?

. The majority justifies its apparent adherence to Virginia public policy concerning confidentiality in independent adoptions by stating *432that “a principal reason cited for pursuing private adoption is so the natural parents may approve the adoptive parents____" There are, however, numerous reasons for pursuing independent adoptions. In the view of several authorities, independent adoptions may be preferred to agency adoptions for newborn children for a variety of reasons. See, e.g., D. Leavitt, Return to a Balanced View of Adoption, supra, 19 Family Law Quarterly 141; W. Meezan, S. Katz, E. Russo, Adoptions Without Agencies: A Study Of Independent Adoptions, pp. 9-11, 41, 90-91, 108, 113, 136, 143-144 (1978).
The majority’s position concerning confidentiality in independent adoptions appears to be an example of the majority’s dislike of independent adoptions. Another example is the majority’s use of the term " ‘gray’ market adoption” for independent adoptions. See Leavitt, supra, at 151 (“Independent adoption is stigmatized as a ‘gray market.’ The very name infers that non-agency adoption is by nature suspect and that decent people would avoid it"). This Court, in my opinion, should refrain from expressing its views concerning the desirability of one type of adoption over another. This is a policy matter which is the business of the General Assembly, not the judiciary.

. Section 5-604(a) states as follows:
"(a) Sending agency to comply with laws.—No sending agency shall send, bring, or cause to be sent or brought into any other party state any child for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption unless the sending agency shall comply with each and every requirement set forth in this section and with the applicable laws of the receiving state governing the placement of children therein.”

. The majority states that it is “illogical to suggest that a court should be unconcerned with whether a person seeking to adopt a child secured custody of the child lawfully or unlawfully.” I am not suggesting that all statutory violations are irrelevant in a subsequent adoption proceeding. A violation of the law which reflects upon the adoptive parents’ fitness as parents should obviously be considered, like any other factor that impacts on the determination of the best interest of the child. See In re Adoption No. 9979, 323 Md. 39, 51, 58-*43459, 591 A.2d 468, 474, 478 (1991). It is relevant in an adoption case, however, only to the extent that it impacts upon the best interests of the child; it is not relevant as a wholly separate matter.
The majority further argues that an ICPC placement is pertinent in an adoption proceeding by citing Code (1984, 1991 Cum.Supp.), § 5-501 et seq., of the Family Law Article which deals with foster care placement by child placement agencies and with the licensing of child care facilities. Subtitle five of the Family Law Article does not involve ICPC placements. Moreover, § 5~507(c), upon which the majority relies for asserting that this child was unlawfully placed, is a limitation on the exception to the licensing requirement for parents who wish to place their children in foster care for an adoption. These licensing requirements do not apply to independent adoptions such as the one in this case.

. The majority accuses this opinion of taking the same position as the circuit court took in this case, namely that the court's authority is limited to granting or denying the adoption petition. Obviously, a circuit court has the authority under the adoption statutes and accompanying rules to address issues related to and preliminary to the adoption. See Maryland Rules D71-D80. Nevertheless, the fact that the circuit court generally has equitable jurisdiction does not mean that, in an adoption case, it is ordinarily appropriate for the court to go beyond the authority granted in the adoption statutes and in the rules. The majority’s holding to the contrary overrules sub silentio Spencer v. Franks, supra, and other Maryland cases.

. In addition to the directive for retroactive compliance with the ICPC, the majority opinion also states that if the circuit court decides that adoption is not in order, the court should "consider whether some action should be taken to assure the child’s needs will be met until a permanent resolution can be achieved.” This directive also appears to violate the principle set forth in Spencer v. Franks and other cases that a court in an adoption proceeding should not become involved in separate matters not provided for in the adoption statutes.

. As authority for its directive of retroactive compliance with the ICPC, the majority cites B. Hartfield, The Role of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children in Interstate Adoption, 68 Neb.L.Rev. 292, 306-307 (1989). Professor Hartfield at that point cites no adoption case in support of her statement that retroactive compliance with the ICPC is an option "frequently chosen.”

. The only appellate case containing any support for the notion that a violation of the ICPC is relevant in an adoption proceeding is the case cited and quoted in the majority’s opinion, Matter of Adoption of T.M.M., 186 Mont. 460, 608 P.2d 130 (1980). In that case, however, the natural mother was contesting the adoption and seeking to revoke her consent, and the Montana court held that the ICPC violation was sufficient grounds for the natural mother to revoke her consent. Contrary to the implication in the majority’s opinion, the Montana court did not hold that a court, as a sanction, could revoke consent without the natural parent’s request to do so. In the case before us, the natural mother is not contesting the adoption or attempting to revoke her consent. The Montana case, therefore, does not furnish support for the majority’s "directives” in the case at bar. See also the later Montana case, Matter of Male Child Born July 15, 1985, 221 Mont. 309, 718 P.2d 660 (1986).
With regard to the Montana opinion in Matter of Adoption of T.M.M., supra, Professor Hartfield points out (B. Hartfield, supra, at 321):
"Thus, while T.M.M. is the only one of the cases in which the adoption was blocked, it is also the only one of the cases in which the issue of ICPC noncompliance was reached at a procedural juncture where the best interests standard was not considered.”