Michigan Laws 710.24 – Petition for adoption; filing; jurisdiction; verification; contents; preplacement assessment; omission of certain identifying information
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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Terms Used In Michigan Laws 710.24
- Adoptee: means the individual who is to be adopted, regardless of whether the individual is a child or an adult. See Michigan Laws 710.22
- Applicant: means an individual or individuals who desire to adopt a child and who have submitted an adoption application to a child placing agency. See Michigan Laws 710.22
- Child: means an individual less than 18 years of age. See Michigan Laws 710.22
- Child placing agency: means a private organization licensed under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722. See Michigan Laws 710.22
- Consent: means a document in which all parental rights over a specific child are voluntarily relinquished to the court for placement with a specific adoptive parent. See Michigan Laws 710.22
- Court: means the family division of circuit court of this state, or if the context requires, the court having jurisdiction over adoption in another state or country. See Michigan Laws 710.22
- Direct placement: means a placement in which a parent or guardian selects an adoptive parent for a child, other than a stepparent or an individual related to the child within the fifth degree by marriage, blood, or adoption, and transfers physical custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parent. See Michigan Laws 710.22
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 710.22
- Suitable to be a parent of an adoptee: means a conclusion that there is no specific concern with respect to an individual that would suggest that placement of any child, or a particular child, in the home of the individual would pose a risk of harm to the physical or psychological well-being of the child. See Michigan Laws 710.22
- Temporary placement: means a placement that occurs before court approval under section 51 of this chapter and that meets the requirements of section 23d of this chapter. See Michigan Laws 710.22
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, if a person desires to adopt a child or an adult and to bestow upon the adoptee his or her family name, or to adopt a child or an adult without a name change, with the intent to make the adoptee his or her heir, that person, together with his or her spouse, if married, shall file a petition with the court of the county in which the petitioner resides, where the adoptee is found or, where the parent’s parental rights were terminated or are pending termination. If both parents’ parental rights were terminated at different times and in different courts, a petition filed under this section shall be filed in the court of the county where parental rights were first terminated. If there has been a temporary placement of the child, the petition for adoption shall be filed with the court that received the report described in section 23d(2) of this chapter.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, the court may allow either of the following to occur:
(a) A married individual to adopt an adult without his or her spouse joining in the petition if all of the interested parties consent.
(b) A married individual to adopt without his or her spouse joining in the petition if the failure of the other spouse to join in the petition or to consent to the adoption is excused by the court for good cause shown or in the best interest of the child.
(3) In an adoption proceeding in which there is more than 1 applicant, the petition for adoption shall be filed with the court of the county where the parent’s parental rights were terminated or are pending termination. If both parents’ parental rights were terminated at different times and in different courts, a petition filed under this section shall be filed in the court of the county where parental rights were first terminated.
(4) The petition for adoption shall be verified by each petitioner and shall contain the following information:
(a) The name, date and place of birth, and place of residence of each petitioner, including the maiden name of the adopting mother.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), the name, date and place of birth, and place of residence if known of the adoptee.
(c) The relationship, if any, of the adoptee to the petitioner.
(d) The full name by which the adoptee shall be known after adoption.
(e) The full description of the property, if any, of the adoptee.
(f) Unless the rights of the parents have been terminated by a court of competent jurisdiction or except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), the names of the parents of the adoptee and the place of residence of each living parent if known.
(g) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), the name and place of residence of the guardian of the person or estate of the adoptee, if any has been appointed.
(5) In a direct placement, the petitioner shall attach to the petition a verified statement certifying that the petitioner has been informed of the availability of counseling services and whether the petitioner has received counseling.
(6) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, in a direct placement, the petitioner shall attach a copy of a preplacement assessment of the petitioner completed or updated within 1 year before the petition is filed with a finding that the petitioner is suitable to be a parent of an adoptee, copies of all other preplacement assessments of the petitioner, if any others have been completed, and a verified statement stating that no preplacement assessments of the petitioner have been completed other than those attached to the petition and explaining any preplacement assessments of the petitioner that have been initiated but not completed. If the petitioner is seeking review of a preplacement assessment under section 23f(8) of this chapter, the petitioner may comply with this subsection by attaching a copy of that preplacement assessment and a copy of the application for review, together with copies of all other preplacement assessments and the verified statement required by this section.
(7) In a direct placement in which the parties have elected not to exchange identifying information, the information required by subsection (4)(f) and (g) and the surname and place of residence of the adoptee required under subsection (4)(b) may be omitted. The attorney or child placing agency assisting in the adoption shall file a verified statement containing the omitted information.