Michigan Adoption Guide

Did you know that 68% of Michigan families have children under 18 years of age in their households?

-Kids in foster care available for adoption in any given year: 3,000
     
-Foster adoptions completed in 2012: 2,731
     
-International adoptions completed in 2013: 230
 
-Other adoptions completed in 2013: 1,692     

Adoption requirements in the state of Michigan are as follows:

Age: You must be 18 years of age or older.     

Marital Status: Adoptive parents in Michigan can be single, married, or divorced. Single LGTB adoptions are permitted as well. Non-married couples, including same-sex couples, cannot jointly adopt. In these cases, only one of the parents would be listed as the parent.     

Finances: You must demonstrate that you are financially able to provide for yourself and family.  

Housing: You must own or rent a safe residence with adequate space for a child.     

Work: You can work inside or outside of your home, or be retired.     

Personality: Must be flexible, energetic, open to learning new things, willing to provide love and support for a child, and willing to work with social workers and other support people.     

Experience: No parenting experience is required.

DISQUALIFYING CRIMES:   In this state, you may not adopt if you have been convicted of any of the following: A prospective adoptive parent cannot have been convicted of child abuse or neglect, spousal abuse, a crime against children, criminal sexual conduct, homicide or other serious crimes.

SOURCE:

Adoption.net

It’s essential to have a good network of family, friends, and neighbors to support you through your adoption process.

It’s also important to connect with other adoptive parents. You can begin making these connections in our adoption forums. You may also want to consider joining a support group for adoptive parents.

Before you get started, click here to learn more about the overall process of adopting an infant in the United States. Then, because laws and processes vary from state to state, come back to get the details about adoption in Michigan.

In Michigan, adoptions can be completed through an approved agency, or an adoption attorney.

Some people pursuing a private adoption find it beneficial to work with a professional adoption facilitator, an individual or organization that matches birth parents with adoptive parents in exchange for a fee.

You can browse and read reviews about adoption service providers in Michigan here.

For more information about picking an adoption agency, learn about the Top Fifteen Things to Look for In An Adoption Agency.

Regardless of whether you complete your adoption through an agency or attorney (all adoptions that are not through foster care are private. You can have a private agency adoption or a private independent adoption), you will need to complete an adoption home study.

Your home study social worker will help educate you about adoption and ensure that you (and your spouse, if applicable) meet the requirements outlined on Slide Four.

Click here to learn more about the Home Study process.

Advertising for adoption services and placements is not addressed in Michigan adoption law.

One of the most important things you can do while waiting for an adoption match is to let everyone know about your hope to adopt. Many adoption connections are made through word-of-mouth referrals.

Creating a profile on Adoption.com Parent Profiles allows you to easily share your story with those considering placing their child for adoption. Features like videos and photos, posts, Pinterest-like favorites, and recommendations and endorsements make it easy to create a profile as unique as you are, increasing the likelihood that you will stand out and connect with that right person.

Rich communication options like video chat and instant messaging make connecting easy. A mobile-responsive design means that you will never be out of reach.

What’s more, Adoption.com receives over 650,000 monthly visits, which means your profile will receive unparalleled exposure. You can even view and monitor your progress through a detailed statistics page.

Ready to get started? Visit adoption.com/profiles to create your profile.

In Michigan, birth parents sign a consent, which is turned into family court and voluntarily relinquishes the parental rights so that the child can be placed with a specific pre-adoptive home. After the child has been in the pre-adoptive home for six months, and the court determines the placement is in the best interest of the adoptee, the adoption will be finalized by court order.

The parent who grants consent may petition the court for revocation of that consent. A release cannot be granted if the child has already been placed for adoption, unless the placement happened before the termination of rights went final in court and a petition was filed for a rehearing.

SOURCE: Adoptionbirthmothers.com

In the state of Michigan, attempts to contact the birth father must be made before parental rights can be terminated.

Consent from the birth father is needed prior to an adoption if he has been financially and emotionally supportive to the birth mother during pregnancy. If there has been no involvement or effort to contact, birth father's rights can be terminated without consent.

Hopeful adoptive parents and/or an adoption agency may provide reasonable and actual payment for birth or adoption-related medical, legal, travel, or living expenses for an expectant mother for up to six weeks postpartum.

Read more about birth parent expenses here.

Post-adoption contact agreements are not addressed in Michigan adoption laws.

A post-adoption contact agreement is a voluntary agreement that can be entered into by adoptive and birth families. The contract outlines details about how much contact the birth and adoptive families would have after the adoption is finalized. Because Michigan law does not address post-adoption contact agreements, they cannot be enforced. Michigan depends upon trust for post-adoption contact agreements.

Finalization of an adoption takes place at least one year after a child has been placed in an adoptive home for private adoptions, six months for state agency adoptions.

A petition to adopt must be submitted within the first 30 days after placement of a child. After the petition has been filed, the court will investigate to ensure that the placement is in the best interest of the adoptee.

If the court approves of the placement, an order of adoption is entered in court after the six-month waiting period and the adoption is then finalized.

With private (usually domestic infant) adoptions, it is always possible to adopt a child within Michigan, even if you live in a different state.

The Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) was adopted in the 1960s to provide for oversight and protection of children placed for foster care or adoption between states.

If you are adopting a child from another state, you will need to receive permission from the ICPC office in the state where the child is from. Your agency or attorney will send the office copies of your home study and some other paperwork. They will need to approve your packet before you can bring your child home.

It is not generally recommended that adoptive families contact the ICPC office directly, as it tends to delay or disrupt the process. Your attorney or agency will manage the ICPC process for you.

However, if you have waited longer than the average wait time, calling the ICPC may be in your best interest.

Read more about the ICPC here.

Hotels average $80 to $100 per night, depending on what area of Michigan you are in. There are many sights near Detroit, including the Henry Ford Museum and the Detroit Zoo. Michigan also has many lakes and welcoming small towns, including Traverse City, Mackinaw Island, and South Haven.

Before you get started, click here to familiarize yourself with the overall process of adopting children through foster care. Then, because laws and processes vary from state to state, come back here to get the details about foster adoption in Michigan.

In Michigan, you can complete a foster adoption either through a private agency that is licensed to provide foster care services or directly through Michigan’s Department of Human Services.

To find adoption agencies in Michigan and to read reviews, check out Adoption.com’s Michigan Reviews page.

You will still need to complete a home study as part of this process. If you are adopting through the Department of Human Services, the state will cover the cost of the home study.

Families hoping to adopt through foster care can go through the dual licensing process to receive both their foster care and adoption licensing.

When a child cannot be returned to their biological parents, the state of Michigan makes every effort to find an adoptive home as quickly as possible. Relative or current foster homes are the first choice for adoptive homes when parental rights are terminated.

Foster homes that are also licensed for adoptions can be available to move toward adopting a foster child in their home if parents rights are terminated.

Post-adoption contact agreements are not enforceable by law in Michigan, and they are not recommended in many cases of adoption through foster care.

A post-adoption contact agreement is a voluntary agreement that can be entered into by adoptive and birth families. The agreement outlines details about how much contact the birth and adoptive families will have after the adoption is finalized.

In instances in which the child’s biological parents’ rights have been involuntarily terminated, the well-being of the child needs to be first and foremost in everyone’s minds if a post-adoption contact agreement is created. Caseworkers and therapists should be consulted in making decisions about contact after adoption.

In Michigan, foster adoptions completed with a licensed state agency take six months after the placement of a child within the adopted home.

The Adoption Subsidy Program provides financial or medical assistance for families adopting through foster care. The subsidy is determined based on the needs of the child, and is meant to assist in the cost of raising the child, not cover all costs. Adoptive families may also be eligible to receive reimbursement for court or other adoption-related expenses. Adoptive parents may also be eligible for federal tax credits.

Ongoing support and training are also available through Michigan’s Post Adoption Resource Centers.

The Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) was adopted in the 1960s to provide for oversight and protection of children placed for foster care or adoption between states.

If you are adopting a child from another state, you will need to receive permission from the ICPC office in the state where the child is from. Your agency or attorney will send the office copies of your home study and some other paperwork. They will need to approve your packet before you can bring your child home.

Read more about the ICPC here.

Hotels average $80 to $100 per night, depending on what area of Michigan you are in. There are many sights near Detroit, including the Henry Ford Museum and the Detroit Zoo. Michigan also has many lakes and welcoming small towns, including Traverse City, Mackinaw Island, and South Haven.

Before you get started, click here to familiarize yourself with the overall process of international adoption. Then, because laws and processes vary from state to state, come back here to get the details about international adoption in Michigan.

There are millions of beautiful children across the world who are hoping to find a forever family.

Click here to meet some of them through our Photolisting.

With international adoptions, your only choice is to complete your adoption through an agency. Because of the Universal Accreditation Act, all adoption agencies completing international adoptions are required to be credentialed according to federal standards. Make sure to check with any agency before working with them to ensure they have this accreditation in place!

In selecting an international adoption agency, there are Four Essential Criteria you should probably consider.

Click here to browse through reviews of adoption agencies in  Michigan.

In order to be approved to adopt internationally, you will need to complete an international adoption-specific home study.

An adoption is recognized in the state of Michigan as long as the adoption, consent to adoption, or release of the child for adoption is in accordance with the laws of the country in which the adoption was executed.

Michigan law permits courts to certify an adoption completed in another country so that a Michigan birth certificate can be issued for the child.
   
You will also need to request a U.S. birth certificate for your child.

Read more about post-adoption requirements here.

Before you get started, click here to familiarize yourself with the overall process of stepparent adoption. Then, because laws and processes vary from state to state, come back here to get the details about stepparent adoption in Michigan.

In order for you to adopt the child of your spouse, the corresponding biological parent’s rights will first need to be terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

You will need to consult with an adoption attorney about your desire to adopt. He/she can help you decide if it’s likely that the biological parent would be willing to relinquish rights OR if it would be feasible to pursue involuntary termination of his/her parental rights.

Once parental rights have been terminated, you can file a petition to adopt with the courts. You and your spouse will both testify in court regarding the stability of your marital relationship, the bond you’ve developed with your stepchild, and your desire to become the legal parent of your stepchild.

You will generally not be required to complete a background check or home study as part of the stepparent adoption process.

Adoption Forums

Wiki laws for Michigan

Parent Profiles for Michigan

Link to Adoption Stories

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https://www.michigan.gov/documents/MCWLChap15Part1_34821_7.pdf