Adoption in Michigan A Complete Guide to Laws, Agencies & Resources (2025)

A Complete Guide to Adoption in Michigan

Thinking about adopting in the Great Lakes State? Our guide will walk you through everything you need to know about adoption in Michigan. We’ll cover Michigan’s adoption laws, who can adopt, different paths to adoption, the Michigan home study process, and how to find Michigan adoption agencies in your area. 

For expectant parents, we’ll explain your rights, consent laws for terminating parental rights, and timelines for changing your mind. Finally, we’ll share important resources and give you the tools to make the best decision for your family.

Michigan Adoption Laws at a Glance

Here’s a quick look at the basics of adoption in Michigan.

Who Can Adopt?	People who are at least 18 years oldPeople who are married, single, divorced, or widowed and of all sexual orientationsPeople who rent or own a home with adequate bedroom space for each childPeople who have a legal, taxable source of income with enough financial stability to provide for their family and the adopted child
Residency Requirements	People living outside Michigan may adopt children from the state. They should be prepared for an initial meeting and visit and possibly an extended stay.
Marital Status	Marital status is not a factor in adoption in Michigan.
Birth Mother Consent	Birth mothers must wait 72 hours after the child’s birth before they can consent to an adoption. Birth mothers must give consent before a judge or juvenile court referee. Consent can also be signed outofcourt with both an adoption attorney representing the birth mother and a licensedcaseworker as witnesses.
Revocation Period	In-court consent becomes irrevocable once the court enters an order terminating parental rights. For out-of-court consent, the birth mother has five business days (excluding weekends and holidays) after signing to submit a written request for revocation.
Birth Father Rights	Unmarried fathers must proactively file a Notice of Intent to Claim Paternity with the court before the child’s birth to protect their rights, as Michigan does not maintain a statewide putative father registry.

Adoption laws are complex. This is a summary for informational purposes only. Please consult with a qualified Michigan adoption attorney for legal advice.

Paths to Adopting a Child in Michigan

Michigan offers several different legal routes to adoption. Each option addresses different family situations and needs. Understanding these pathways can help you determine what’s best for your family. 

Private Infant Adoption

Private adoptions usually involve adopting a newborn or infant. In most cases, an agency or attorney helps the hopeful adoptive family with the process. An agency usually facilitates the match with a birth family, while if you use an attorney, you often have to find your own match 

Prospective adoptive parents must also undergo a home study that includes a background check, interviews and visits to the home. The process takes time and money on the part of the adoptive parents, but if all goes well, it allows them to welcome an infant into their family. 

Adopting from Foster Care

Foster care adoption involves adopting a child from Michigan’s child welfare program. In these cases, the state has terminated the child’s birth parents’ parental rights. These children are in the state’s care due to circumstances that made it unsafe for them to remain with their birth families. They are legally eligible for adoption and need permanent families. 

The age of these children ranges from infants to teenagers, and many are older children. Some are also part of sibling groups who want to stay together. 

Adopting from foster care is usually low-cost or free, and it’s often faster than private adoption. Michigan offers three different subsidy programs to help with costs, as well as a team of adoption navigators to guide adoptive parents through the process. 

Stepparent or Relative Adoption

Stepparent or relative adoption lets you legally adopt your spouse’s child from a previous relationship, or a child who is a relative, such as a grandchild, niece, nephew, or sibling. The Family Division of the Circuit Court handles stepparent adoptions in Michigan. 

These adoptions follow a simpler process, but you’ll still need to meet certain requirements. The other birth parent must have their parental rights terminated, either by agreement or through a court. The child must live with you for at least six months before the petition for adoption is filed. While there is no home study required, you must attend a court hearing and pass background checks. 

Finally, if the child is over 14 years old, they must also consent to the adoption. 

A Deeper Look at Michigan Adoption Laws

Here’s a more detailed explanation of what Michigan’s laws say about who can adopt, birth parent consent and revocation, and completing the home study. 

Who is Eligible to Adopt in Michigan?

You must be at least 18 years old to adopt in Michigan. According to state statutes, Michigan looks at what is in the best interest of the child. The State evaluates factors such as love and affection, ability to provide for the child’s needs, moral fitness, and mental and physical health. 

Adoptive parents may be single, married, divorced, or widowed, and of any sexual orientation. Married parents generally must apply together. 

You may rent or own your home, as long as there is enough bedroom space for each adopted child. There is no set minimum income, but you must have a legal, taxable income that is enough for yourself, your family, and the adopted child. 

According to state guidelines, the adoptive parent should not be more than 50 years older than the adopted child, but this requirement can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

Michigan does not have residency requirements, but if you live outside of the state, you should be prepared to visit for an initial meeting, and possibly for an extended stay. You cannot adopt if you have been convicted of child sexual abuse crimes or criminal sexual conduct.

Note that for private adoptions, agencies may have additional eligibility requirements. 

Birth Parent Consent in Michigan

In Michigan, birth parents must give legal consent to end their parental rights before an adoption can be finalized. This process is stricter than in some states, with extra legal supervision. 

Consent must be signed in court before a judge, or signed outofcourt with both an adoption attorney and a licensed caseworker as witnesses. If the birth mother is under 18, her parent or guardian must also sign the consent.

Birth mothers must wait 72 hours after the child’s birth to terminate parental rights. Once consent is finalized in court, it cannot be changed. However, the birth mother can request a court hearing to appeal within 21 days of the order.

If consent is signed outside of court, the birth mother has five business days to request to revoke it. She must send a written request to the attorney or agency. This request does not automatically return the child. Instead, a judge will hold a hearing to decide if the consent was signed freely and if revoking it is in the child’s best interest. 

Unless their parental rights have been previously terminated, the birth father must also consent to the adoption. Unmarried fathers must file a verified Notice of Intent to Claim Paternity directly with the court before the child’s birth to establish their rights. 

The Home Study Process in Michigan

Before you can adopt in Michigan, you’ll have to complete a home study. Michigan calls this process a preplacement assessment. 

A licensed child placing agency will conduct this study, whichinvolves multiple visits to your residence and interviews with you and with references you provide. You’ll have to agree to a criminal background check and a physical examination to make sure that you are healthy enough to care for the child. 

The agency will also gather information about your education, occupation, property, income, and religious practices. 

Find Michigan Adoption Agencies and Professionals

The Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) offers a comprehensive adoption agency search tool to help you find the exact resources you need. To get you started, here are noteworthy adoption agencies and professionals serving Michigan and its major cities. 

Statewide and National Agencies Serving Michigan

Adoption Associates: Statewide private Christian adoption agency open to clients of all faiths, serving birth parents and adoptive families since 1990. 

Adoption Partners of Michigan: Statewide private agency with over 60 years of experience offering services for birth parents and adoptive families. 

Bethany Christian Services: One of the nation’s largest Christian nonprofits providing adoption, foster care support, and Safe Families programs.

Forever Families Inc.: Statewide agency providing both adoption and foster care services. 

Greater Hopes: Full service child placing agency serving Michigan that prides themselves on providing a “modern, ethical, safe, and caring environment.” 

Keane Center for Adoption: Statewide agency specializing in domestic infant adoption. 

Morning Star Adoption Center: Private agency serving expectant mothers and adoptive families in Detroit, Flint, Port Huron, and Pontiac.

Detroit Area Agencies

Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan: Provides foster care and adoption services to children and families in Southeast Michigan, including support throughout the legal and emotional adoption journey.

Oakland Family Services: Provides adoption from foster care, relative adoption, foster home licensing, and adoption training in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.

Ennis Center for Children: Offers adoption from foster care and foster home licensing services in Metro Detroit and surrounding counties.

Samaritas: A faith-based organization providing foster care, adoption, and family preservation services throughout Southeast Michigan.

Grand Rapids Area Agencies

D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s: Has provided adoption from foster care, foster home licensing, and family support services for over 130 years in the Grand Rapids area.

Catholic Charities West Michigan: Offers comprehensive adoption and foster care services with offices in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Traverse City.

Greater Hopes: A full-service child placing agency focused on strengthening families through adoption services and family support programs.

Michigan Adoption Attorneys

An adoption attorney can help guide you through the complex legal process of adoption, giving you more time to plan your family. To find an attorney in Michigan, start with the Michigan directory of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.

Adopting from Foster Care in Michigan

Foster care adoption offers a meaningful path to building your family while providing a permanent, loving home to a child in need. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Servicesoversees the state’s child welfare system and works with private agencies to place children from foster care into adoptive homes.

Currently, approximately 10,000 children are in foster care in Michigan. Of these, around 2,200 are legally free for adoption, meaning their biological parents’ rights have been terminated and they are ready to be placed with permanent families. 

While many of these children are adopted by relatives or their foster parents, about 200 children are waiting without an identified adoptive family—these are the children who need you most.

Children waiting for adoption from foster care range from infants to teenagers, though most are older children. Many are part of sibling groups who hope to stay together. Approximately 95% of children available for adoption through Michigan’s foster care system qualify for adoption assistance, which includes financial support and Medicaid coverage to help meet their needs.

Visit MARE’s website to view photo listings of waiting children, connect with licensed adoption agencies, and access resources to begin your foster care adoption journey.

Resources for Expectant Parents in Michigan

Considering adoption as an expectant parent is deeply personal and can feel overwhelming. Remember, you are not alone. You have options, you have rights, and you have support.

In Michigan, you have complete control over your adoption plan. You decide how open you want the adoption to be — that is, how much, if any, contact you want with the adoptive family. You also have the right to change your mind anytime before signing legal consent.

• Adoptive families are allowed to provide financial assistance for the following legitimate pregnancy-related expenses: Medical care
• Cunseling 
• Living expenses (food, housing, utilities, transportation) during pregnancy and up to six weeks postpartum
• Maternity clothes
• Legal fees 

This is support for your needs, not payment for adoption. None of this support forces you to place your child for adoption.  

After the baby is born, you must wait 72 hours before you can sign consent. If you sign and then change your mind, you have five business days to request to stop the adoption.

If you need support, have questions, or just want to talk, MARE can connect you with non-judgmental counseling and support and help you explore your options. For unbiased information about all pregnancy options, contact Planned Parenthood of Michigan.