How do I get a copy of the adoption order in Michigan?

To get a copy of your Michigan adoption order, contact the clerk of the Family Division of Circuit Court in the county where your adoption was finalized, and ask for certified copies of the Order of Adoption. The court that finalizes your adoption is the court that keeps the order, so the clerk's office is always your starting point.

Right after finalization:

• Ask the court clerk for certified copies before you leave the courthouse. Some people find this easier than requesting them later.
• Ask how many copies you can get that day, how the court handles certification, and whether the copies are handed to you or mailed.
• Ask what each certified copy costs and which payment methods the clerk accepts. Fees and turnaround times are set locally, so the clerk in your county is the one to confirm them. Copy fees are separate from the court filing fee, which typically runs $200-$500.

How many copies to ask for:

Think about everywhere you may need to show proof of the adoption:

• The Michigan Vital Records Office, for updating the child's birth record (ask them whether they need a certified copy and what else they require)
• Health insurance or other benefits enrollment
• School records
• A passport application
• Your own permanent family records

Some of these offices keep the copy you hand them, so it helps to request a few extra. The clerk can tell you if there is any limit.

If you need a copy later:

• Contact the clerk of the Family Division of Circuit Court in the county where the adoption was finalized.
• Have the case number, the names on the case, and the approximate date of finalization ready.
• Ask what identification or request form the clerk requires, what the fee is, and how long it will take.
• If you no longer know the case number, the clerk can often help you locate the file with the names and date.

Timing:

A Michigan stepparent adoption typically takes 3-6 months from start to finish, and the order is the last piece of that process. Once you have it, keep certified copies somewhere safe, such as with birth certificates and other important family papers.

Special situations:

If your adoption file is difficult to locate, if the case was handled in a county you no longer live in, or if someone else is asking about the record, the clerk of that county's Family Division of Circuit Court can explain what applies to you. For anything that turns on the facts of your particular case, an attorney can advise you.

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. We deliver court-ready documents within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and you file them yourself without an attorney. The cost is $349 for the first child (or one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child, and we back it with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 391 Michigan families so far.