Terms Used In Michigan Laws 722.1003

  • Acknowledgment: means an acknowledgment of parentage executed as provided in this act. See Michigan Laws 722.1002
  • Child: means a child conceived and born to a woman who was not married at the time of conception or the date of birth of the child, or a child that the circuit court determines was born or conceived during a marriage but is not the issue of that marriage. See Michigan Laws 722.1002
  • Court: means the circuit court. See Michigan Laws 722.1002
  • Father: means the man who signs an acknowledgment of parentage of a child. See Michigan Laws 722.1002
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  (1) If a child is born out of wedlock, a man is considered to be the natural father of that child if the man joins with the mother of the child and acknowledges that child as his child by completing a form that is an acknowledgment of parentage.
  (2) An acknowledgment of parentage form is valid and effective if signed by the mother and father and those signatures are each notarized by a notary public authorized by the state in which the acknowledgment is signed or witnessed by 1 disinterested, legally competent adult. The witness must be an employee of 1 of the following: a hospital, publicly funded or licensed health clinic, pediatric office, friend of the court, prosecuting attorney, court, department of human services, department of community health, county health agency, county records department, head start program, local social services provider, county jail, or state prison. The witness must sign and date the acknowledgment of parentage form and provide his or her printed name, address, and place of employment. An acknowledgment may be signed any time during the child’s lifetime.
  (3) The mother and father shall be provided a copy of the completed acknowledgment at the time of signing.