Step-parent adoptions are the most common type of adoption handled in this office.  This is an adoption in which a biological parent and a step-parent petition the court to adopt a child so that the child is the legal child and heir to the step-parent. 

Once the petition has been reviewed and processed by the Court, the petitioner will receive a letter by mail from the Court indicating that the case has been referred for a home study.  The investigator has three months to complete that home study.  The fee for the home study is payable directly to the investigator on the date of the investigation.

After the adoption investigation is completed and a report filed with the Court, the Court will notify the petitioner’s that the biological parent’s rights may now be terminated, either by consent or a termination hearing.  The consent must be done at a hearing before the Judge and the biological parent may contact the Court to schedule this hearing.  If the biological parent is unwilling to give his/her consent to the adoption, the rights of the parent would need to be terminated (see instructions for Termination of Parental Rights).

Once the rights of the biological parent have been terminated, that parent has the right to a 21-day appeal period.  If the petitioner’s have completed the motion for immediate confirmation (#12 on the petition) and the six month waiting period has been waived for good cause, the adoption may be finalized after the expiration of the appeal period. Petitioners may request a confirmation hearing or the order of adoption will be mailed to the petitioners.

If a confirmation hearing is held, the petitioners and the adoptee must be present.  Family and friends are welcome to be present at the hearing and photographs are acceptable.

After the adoption is finalized a new birth certificate will be issued by the State of Michigan (or the state where the child was born).  The fee for a new birth certificate is $40.00 and is due upon completion of the adoption and payable to the State of Michigan.