Can I adopt my stepchild if I'm in a same-sex marriage in Michigan?

Yes, if you are in a valid same-sex marriage, you can adopt your stepchild in Michigan. Michigan recognizes all valid marriages and allows stepparent adoption regardless of the couple's gender. Your adoption goes through the same court process, with the same forms, as any other stepparent adoption.

Where it's filed: Your petition goes to the Family Division of Circuit Court (Family Court) in your county. Michigan has 83 counties, and each court has its own filing details. The adoption is governed by Michigan Compiled Laws Chapter 710.

What the process involves:

• Residency: Michigan has no minimum residency period. The court can grant the adoption as long as you, your spouse, or the child is a Michigan resident (MCL § 710.24(1)).
• Child's consent: If your stepchild is 14 or older, their consent is part of the process (MCL § 710.43).
• The other parent: Your stepchild's other legal parent is part of the process too. Michigan's abandonment period is 24 months (MCL § 710.51). Child support payments alone do not prevent an abandonment finding, because the court looks at the whole relationship, including contact, emotional support, and genuine interest in the child.
• Home study: A home study investigation is part of the process (MCL § 710.46).
• Background check: Michigan requires a criminal background check, but minor infractions rarely prevent approval.
• Attorney: Michigan allows you to represent yourself in a stepparent adoption.

Timeline and cost: Stepparent adoptions in Michigan typically take 3-6 months. Court filing fees generally run $200-$500, and the total typical cost is under $1,000, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ for attorney-handled adoptions.

When your situation needs a closer look: Some family circumstances depend on specific facts. Examples are a child who was born through a donor or surrogate, another legal parent who is unknown or who objects, or a parent who is out of contact. For these, ask the Family Division of Circuit Court clerk in your county how the court handles it, or speak with an attorney about your specific case. The clerk can also confirm local filing steps and any details particular to your county.

Adopting more than one child: If you have more than one stepchild, you can include all of them in a single petition.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your Michigan county. You then file it yourself, without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. Your court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 391 Michigan families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.