Michigan Adoption Lawyers

Need Help Adopting a Child in Michigan?

Adoption is one of the most beautiful displays of love and generosity one can witness in this world today. Willis Law, with its Christian foundation, has experience with all types of adoptions and is prepared to assist adoptive parents, birth parents or agency representatives. Kalamazoo adoption lawyers and Grand Rapids adoption lawyers are here to assist.

Adoption is the act that legally establishes relations of paternity and affiliation among people who are not related by nature. In re Session's Estate, 70 Mich 297, 305 (1888). Adoption has also been referred to as the "legal equivalent of biological parenthood." Smith v Org of Foster Families for Equality and Reform, 431 US 816, 844 n 51 (1977). [Source: Michigan Judicial Institute].

Willis Law has offices in Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, South Haven and Paw Paw, and it serves clients in the following counties: Kalamazoo Lawyers, Kent Lawyers, Calhoun Lawyers, Berrien Lawyers, Holland Lawyers, St. Joseph Lawyers, Van Buren Lawyers, Allegan Lawyers, and lawyers in all of West Michigan and throughout Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

Contact Our Kalamazoo Adoption Attorneys

If you are looking for legal assistance, or someone you know requires assistance/advice with an adoption question or the process or needs a Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo Michigan adoption attorney to handle the adoption, call us today for a free consultation and evaluation of your case or contact us via email.

Types of Adoption

Direct Placement Adoption Anchor#DirectPlacementAdoption

Michigan Direct placement adoption permits the temporary placement of a child in a prospective adoptive parents' home while the legal process is completed. Direct placement can occur anytime, not just with newborns.

This placement can occur immediately following birth or anytime thereafter. The biological parent or guardian transfers physical custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parent. The child goes home from the hospital with the prospective adoptive parents. Under direct placement, the biological parents may personally select the adoptive parents and consent to the adoption of the child by an unrelated individual or couple.

Once one parent consents to an adoption, the other parent's parental rights must be voluntarily terminated under a consent to adopt, be voluntarily terminated under the Juvenile Code or be involuntarily terminated. If necessary, a child's mother may petition the court to identify a putative father.

Stepparent Adoption Anchor#StepparentAdoption

A Michigan stepparent adoption occurs when the custodial parent marries and his or her spouse petitions the court to adopt the custodial parent's child and terminate the noncustodial parent's parental rights. The unique nature of a stepparent adoption requires different procedures for the adoption process. The conditions for placing a child contained in MCL 710.41 do not apply in stepparent adoptions (MCL 710.41(4)).

The noncustodial parent may be a divorced parent, a father who has acknowledged paternity, or a putative father who has an established custodial relationship with the child or has provided regular support or care to the mother or child. The noncustodial parent may consent and voluntarily relinquish his or her rights to the child. The noncustodial parent may also withdraw his or her consent up until the rights are terminated, or he or she files a petition for rehearing which must occur within 21 days of entry of the termination order.

Where a noncustodial parent does not consent to the stepparent adoption, the court may involuntarily terminate the rights if it is found that the noncustodial parent has failed to provide support and maintain contact. Generally speaking, if more than a period of two years has lapsed since any support was provided or contact made, the noncustodial parent may have difficulty succeeding with his or her objection to the stepparent adoption.

Formal Placement Anchor#FormalPlacement

A Michigan Formal placement is an adoptive placement approved by the court (MCL 710.22(p)). It is the selection and transfer of physical custody of a child to prospective adoptive parents (MCL 710.22(s)). Although formal placement need not be preceded by a temporary placement, a temporary placement becomes a formal placement once the parental rights have been terminated and the court approves placement (MCL 710.23a(1)). The only parties who may make a formal placement are a biological parent or guardian with legal and physical custody, a court with legal and physical custody of a child under the Juvenile Code, or a child placing agency or the Department of Human Services with legal and physical custody.

Relative Adoption Anchor#RelativeAdoption

The unique nature of a Michigan relative adoption requires different procedures for the adoption process. A biological parent or guardian with legal custody may make a formal placement with a relative (MCL 710.23a(4)). A relative is defined as "an individual who is related to the child within the fifth degree by marriage, blood or adoption." MCL 710.22(t). "Within the fifth degree by marriage, blood or adoption" is defined as follows:

Parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, brother, step-brother, sister, step-sister, uncle, step-uncle, aunt, step-aunt, first cousin, step-first cousin, great aunt, step-great aunt, great uncle, step-great uncle, great grandparent, step-great grandparent, first cousin once removed, step-first cousin once removed, great great grandparent, step-great great grandparent, great great uncle, step-great great uncle, great great aunt, step-great great aunt, great great great grandparent, or step-great great great grandparent.

Legal Risk Adoption Anchor#LegalRiskAdoption

A Michigan legal risk adoption is when the court enters an order for termination of parental rights and places the child for adoption before the 21-day period for a party petitioning for a rehearing, the filing of an appeal, pending a decision on a rehearing or when an appeal is pending. When this occurs, the court informs the prospective adoptive parent that the adoption petition will not be granted until the petition for rehearing is granted, the petition for rehearing is denied and the appeal period has expired, or there is a decision affirming the order terminating parental rights. MCL 710.41(2)(a)-(c). These actions do not prevent a child residing in a licensed foster home from being adopted by the foster parent.

Foster Care and Adoption Anchor#FosterCareandAdoption

Michigan Foster care is a temporary place. Foster parents are expected to work with the agency and birth parents in the hopes that the family will be reunited. Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to become a foster parent with the expectation that you will always be able to adopt a child placed in your care. If parental rights are terminated, relatives and then foster parents are considered first for the formal adoption.

Foster care licensure is governed by the state of Michigan, 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 et seq. Generally speaking, you do not have to be married to a foster parent or adopt a child or children, you do not need to own your own home as long as there is adequate space for the child and the home is free from health, fire or safety hazards, and you do not need to be rich to adopt or be a foster parent. There is financial assistance available. In certain circumstances, the Department of Human Services is permitted to pay a subsidy to adoptive parents of eligible children the purpose of which is to encourage the adoption of children who are in foster care by relieving the financial burden of adoption. There are three basic adoption subsidy programs ─ support subsidies, medical subsidies, and nonrecurring adoption expenses subsidies.

Termination of Biological Parents' Rights

Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights Anchor#VoluntaryTermination

• A parent may voluntarily relinquish his or her Michigan parental rights by the following:
• Releasing parental rights to the Department of Human Services or a child placing agency;
• During the course of a child protective proceeding by releasing and terminating his or her parental rights or admitting to grounds for termination, or a no contest plea pursuant to the Juvenile Code;

or

• By consenting to a child's adoption to a direct placement adoption as follows:
• The parent selects an adoptive parent and transfers physical custody to the prospective adoptive parent;
• In a stepparent adoption, the noncustodial parent terminates his or her parental rights and consents to the adoption; or
• A relative adoption (formal placement of the child with a relative).

Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights Anchor#InvoluntaryTermination

The court in Michigan may involuntarily terminate a parent's rights as follows under the Adoption Code:

• As it relates to uninterested putative* fathers (MCL 710.37);
• As it relates to interested putative fathers (MCL 710.39); or
• As it relates to a stepparent adoption (MCL 710.51(6)).

*Putative father means a man who is alleged to be the biological father of a child who has no legal father. MCL 3.903(A)(23). A putative father has a due process right to notice and a hearing before his parental rights are terminated.

The court may also involuntarily terminate a parent's rights as a result of child protective proceedings under the Juvenile Code (MCL 712A.19b(3)).

If a parent is incarcerated under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Corrections, specific requirements must be met in order to provide proper notice to the party.

Other Related Matters

Legal Michigan Guardianship Anchor#LegalGuardianship

In some cases, you may find that you want guardianship rather than to formally adopt a child. This occurs frequently in family situations where a parent might be incarcerated or need temporary help with regard to his or her child. There is a separate process for filing a Petition for Guardianship.

Michigan Grandparent Rights Anchor#GrandparentRights

While a stepparent adoption is pending, the parent of a biological parent (the grandparent of the child) may seek an order for visitation with the adoptee pursuant to MCL 722.27b. The court may also enter an order for grandparenting time. Circumstances under which a child's grandparent may seek grandparenting time include:

• The child's parents filed for divorce, separation or an annulment that is pending;
• The child's parents are divorced, legally separated or the marriage was annulled;
• The child's parent is deceased and it is the decedent's parent seeking the order;
• The child's parents never married, but paternity was established;
• The child does not reside with his or her biological parent or parents nor do they have custody over the child (it is important to note that ordinarily a child's preadoption placement or adoption terminates a grandparents' right to seek grandparenting time);
• The child lived with the grandparent for at least one year;
• In a stepparent adoption, a deceased parent's parent may seek grandparenting time.

Michigan Indian Child Anchor#IndianChild

If an Indian child is involved, the court must follow the mandates of the Indian Child Welfare Act (25 USC 1901, et seq.)

Michigan Illegal Placement Anchor#IllegalPlacement

A person who places a child for adoption without the authority to do so is guilty of a misdemeanor (for a first violation) which is punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $100 or both, and if more than one violation, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than four years or a fine of not more than $2,000 or both for each subsequent violation.

Willis Law Can Help With the Following Related Adoption Matters: Anchor#RelatedAdoptionIssues

• Michigan Birth Mother
• Michigan Birth Father
• Michigan Birth Parents
• Michigan Stepparents
• Michigan Grandparents
• Michigan Guardian or Guardianship
• Michigan Termination of Parental Rights
• Michigan Single Parent Adoption
• Michigan Couple Adoption
• Michigan Direct Placement Adoption
• Michigan Temporary Custody

Other Things You May Want to Know About Our Firm: Anchor#OtherFactsAboutWillisLaw

• We are a Christian law firm
• We go beyond legal representation and care about you and your family
• We have offices in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, South Haven, Paw Paw, and Lansing
• We provide a free legal consultation immediately
• We will visit you at home or in the hospital
• We will deal with the insurance company or Medicaid issues
• We will fully explain the entire adoption process
• We will begin working on your case immediately
• We will conduct a thorough investigation
• We will put our experience to work for you

Contact Us Today for More Information About Adoption

For more information about adoption in Michigan, and how the compassionate and experienced adoptions attorneys at Willis Law can help you, please contact us today.

Michael Willis is the contributing author for this content.