Adoption is a noble choice for would-be parents in Michigan who wish to provide a child with a brighter future. The reasons for adoption are numerous: families who are unable to have biological children, same-sex couples, grandparents who wish to adopt a grandchild, and blended families who discover they work better together.

More than 3,000 children in Michigan enter the foster system each year, making it absolutely necessary for adoptive families to engage in state adoption. However, there are many different types of adoption and many families who may find themselves adopting a child by technicality, such as a stepparent wishing to become a legal parent.

Making Your Adoption Dreams Come True

Whatever your plans for adoption are, the adoption process can be a legal maze, difficult to navigate and lengthy if counsel is not provided every step of the way. Outlined below are some of the most basic facts and figures about Michigan-specific adoption, which our highly qualified and reputable Grand Rapids attorney has experience with.

Similar to child support and guardianship, adoption laws vary by state and can be difficult to understand without help from a family law attorney. Furthermore, Michigan has not enacted a statewide procedure for the processing of adoption, as such, each county has their own procedure which often differ from neighboring counties. We are fortunate to live in Michigan, where adoption laws allow for many different types of adoption: direct placement, agency placement, guardianship adoption, step-parent adoption, and even adult adoption.

Issues That Can Arise During the Adoption Process

Michigan adoption laws provide a fair amount of freedom to adoptive parents, but they also allow for the agency of older children: anyone 14 or older must agree to be adopted and give consent. Children below the age of 14 can be adopted without consent.

Additionally, it is important to remember that Michigan adoption agencies operate privately and are legally entitled to refuse service due to religious or moral disagreements. The most obvious example of this would be a Christian adoption agency refusing to place a child in the adoptive care of a same-sex couple due to the fact that this would violate their deeply held religious beliefs.

With a number of adoption agencies operating in the state of Michigan and the Grand Rapids area alone, it is not difficult to find a child in need of a loving home. You have many choices should you decide to take the life-changing step of adopting a child and offering them a better chance at life. Our team at Striegle Law can help you navigate the labyrinth that is family law and ease your mind.