Michigan's Adoption Laws

• Adoption Records
• Consent To Adoption
• Parties To An Adoption
• Birth Father Statutes
• Adoption Expenses
• International Expenses
• General Adoption Statutes

Adoption Records

Michigan

Statute: § 722.627(2)-(3), (8)-(9)

Records Confidential: Yes

Persons with access to records

• CPS/State Agencies

• Courts/Judges

• Grand Juries

• Law Enforcement

• Attorneys, GAL's

• Physicians

• Researchers

• Coroners

• Review Teams

• Treatment Providers

• Subject of Reports

Persons without access to records

• Agencies From Other States

• Attorneys General/Prosecutors

• Reporters of Abuse

• Employers

• Parents/Guardians

• Public/Any Person

Other Child-placing agencies Legislative committees Children's ombudsman Child care regulatory agency

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Consent to Adoption

The consent is signed in court, approximately 1-3 weeks after the birth of the child. If either birth parent is under the age of 18 at the time of delivery, a parent or guardian must also consent to the adoption.

Pre-consents are not allowed in the state of Michigan.

Revocation Time Frame in Michigan

The consent is irrevocable once the birth mother appears in court.

Parties to an Adoption

Michigan

• Any person

• A husband and wife jointly

Any child or adult

• A parent or guardian having legal and physical custody

• A child-placing agency

• The department

• A court having legal custody

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Birth Father Statutes

No information currently available.

Adoption Expenses

Michigan

1. • Medical, hospital, nursing, or pharmaceutical expenses incurred by the birth mother or adopted person
2. • Counseling services related to the adoption
3. • Living expenses, legal fees, and travel expenses

1. • Medical expenses that are covered by the birth mother's insurance or Medicaid
2. • Living expenses beyond 6 weeks after the birth of the child

Allowable Payments for Arranging Adoption Statute: § 710.54(1),(2)

 A person shall not pay or receive compensation for:

1. • Arranging placement or consent for adoption
2. • Referring a parent to a prospective adoptive parent or vice versa

Allowable Payments for Relinquishing Child Statute: § 710.54(6)

 Payment for expenses shall not be contingent on:

1. • Release of the child or consent to the adoption
2. • Cooperation in the completion of the adoption

Allowable Fees Charged by Department/Agency Statute: § 710.54(3), (4) 

An adoptive parent shall pay the reasonable and actual charge for:

1. • The services of the child-placing agency
2. • The preplacement assessment
3. • Any additional investigations ordered

Accounting of Expenses Required by Court Statute: § 710.54(7)

1. • At least 7 days before placement of the child, a verified accounting, with receipts attached, shall be filed with the court itemizing all payments made, or agreed to be made, in connection with the adoption.
2. • The petitioner's attorney and the child-placing agency shall also submit statements itemizing the services performed and the compensation received.

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

International Expenses

No information currently available.

General Adoption Statutes

Michigan

1. • Family Independence Agency
2. • Child placement agency
3. • Employee or agent of the court

1. • Date and place of birth
2. • Health and genetic history
3. • Prenatal care; medical condition at birth
4. • Medical, psychological, and dental information
5. • Any abuse or neglect suffered by the child
6. • Records of immunizations and health care
7. • Education records
8. • Physical description and family origin

1. • Medical, social, and genetic information
2. • Hereditary disease disposition
3. • Health at birth
4. • Medical, psychological, and dental information
5. • Drugs taken by mother during pregnancy
6. • Racial, ethnic, and religious background
7. • Achievements, e.g., educational

1. • Emotional ties to the adoptive child
2. • Capacity for love, affection, and guidance
3. • Ability to provide education
4. • Ability to foster the religion, racial identity, and culture of the child
5. • Capacity to provide food, clothing, permanence, and medical care
6. • Moral fitness
7. • Mental and physical health

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

If you are an adoption professional and have updated information for this portion of our site let us know by contacting us at 1-800-ADOPTION or e-mail us at editors@americanadoptions.com.