Maryland Kinship Affidavit Annual Renewal: Deadlines and Steps

You filed the affidavit, the child is in school, the doctor has a copy on file — and then summer arrives. Maryland's informal kinship care affidavits are not permanent. Both the school enrollment affidavit and the health consent affidavit require annual renewal.

The School Affidavit Deadline

Under COMAR 13A.08.05 and Education Article § 7-101(c), the school enrollment affidavit must be re-filed at least two weeks before the start of the school year. That means if your district starts classes in late August, your renewal should be submitted by mid-August at the latest.

Education § 7-101(c)(5) also sets September 30 as a target date for submission of supporting hardship documentation. File the affidavit before school starts; the school may review supporting evidence afterward.

File before the deadline to keep a current affidavit on record when the school year begins.

The Health Consent Affidavit Renewal

Form DHS/SSA/554 under Health-General § 20-105 must also be renewed annually. There is no specific calendar deadline like the school affidavit. Renew it annually so healthcare providers have a current form on file.

Best practice: renew both affidavits at the same time, during the summer, before the school year begins.

Midyear Change Reporting

Both the school and health affidavits require you to notify the relevant agency within 30 days if anything changes:

• The child returns to the parent's care
• The hardship resolves (parent completes treatment, is released from incarceration, etc.)
• You move to a different address
• The care arrangement changes in any material way

Both affidavits are signed under penalties of perjury, so report changes within the required 30-day period.

How to Renew

The renewal process is essentially the same as the initial filing:

1. Complete a fresh affidavit form and have it signed and dated in the physical presence of a commissioned notary public (use the same county form or state statutory language you used originally)
2. Confirm that the qualifying hardship still applies
3. Submit the school affidavit to the school enrollment office at least two weeks before the first day of school
4. Submit the health affidavit renewal to DHS/SSA and give updated copies to every healthcare provider

Some counties may ask for fresh supporting documentation — check with your school's pupil personnel worker.

Setting Yourself a Reminder

The most common problem is simply forgetting. Put the renewal on your calendar for mid-July — that gives you time to complete the forms, gather any updated documentation, and file before the two-week-before-school deadline. Our Maryland School and Medical Consent Guide includes an annual renewal tracker to keep both affidavits on schedule.

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