Frequently Asked Questions About Adoptions in Michigan

 Posted on October 28, 2022 in Divorce

 Adoption can be a wonderfully rewarding experience for many people to bring a child into their home and begin providing a loving and caring environment for them to grow up in, but adoption can also be incredibly confusing to navigate. People who are trying to adopt in Michigan will want to be sure they retain legal counsel for help overcoming any and all obstacles that may arise.

Birth parents can work closely with adoptive parents in some cases, but there may be others in which these parties do not meet. Every adoption in Michigan will require certain steps to be followed.

Who Can Legally Adopt in Michigan?

A person who wants to adopt in Michigan must be at least 18 years of age, complete a licensing application, successfully complete all background clearances for themselves and all of their adult household members, provide medical statements for themselves and all of their household members, submit to an environmental inspection, provide three acceptable references, pass on-site visits to their home by a licensing worker, and attend training pertinent to foster care issues.

What Legal Rights Does a Birth Father Have?

Michigan Compiled Law § 710.43 establishes that the consent of both of a child’s parents will be required, unless the rights of those parents were terminated. Under Michigan Compiled Law § 710.33, any father who files an acknowledgment of paternity will be entitled to notice of any hearing relating to their child.

How Does a Home Inspection Work?

Any person hoping to adopt a child in Michigan needs to complete a home study. The study is typically done by an adoption worker and licensed social worker. 

A home study involves multiple meetings between the prospective adoptive parent and the adoption worker, at least one meeting which must occur at the parent’s home so the worker can observe where a child will be living. During a home study, an adoption worker gathers information about a family’s personal history, information about a parent’s health, the parent’s criminal history, and family income information. A home study also requires pre-adopting training, which is the completion of a minimum of 12 hours of Parent Resources for Information, Development and Training (PRIDE) classes. 

How Does the Birth Certificate Work for Adopted Children?

After the completion of an adoption in Michigan, a new birth certificate is issued that shows the adoptive parents as the parents of a child. There will be no indication on the birth certificate that the child was adopted. When an adoption is properly filed with the State Vital Records office, the original Michigan birth record is sealed, and the State Vital Records office can only issue a copy of the replacement birth record indicating an adopted name and the names of adoptive parents.

Contact a Novi, MI Adoption Lawyer

The Oakland County, MI adoption attorneys at Elkouri Heath, PLC understand how stressful it can be for people wanting to adopt in Michigan. We can work closely with you throughout the adoption process so you get answers to all of your questions and never feel like you are handling anything on your own.

Our firm also assists stepparents seeking to adopt a spouse’s child. Make sure you call 248-344-9700 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. 

Sources:

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(ei2nk0nzoouir32m5unbzsym))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectName=mcl-710-33

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(xxxrikefu0i201odcjzkxsgu))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-710-43

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords