How old do you have to be to adopt in Michigan?

Michigan's adoption law does not state a minimum age for the person adopting. MCL § 710.24(1) simply opens with "if a person desires to adopt a child or an adult." If you are worried about a specific age or an age difference between you and the child, the Family Division of Circuit Court clerk in your county can confirm how that applies to you, and an attorney can advise on your particular situation.

What the law does say about who can petition. The same section covers adopting a child or an adult. For a stepparent adoption, you file in the Family Division of Circuit Court (often called Family Court) in your county. Michigan has 83 counties, including those around Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights and Ann Arbor.

Residency. Michigan has no minimum residency period (MCL § 710.24(1)). A Michigan court can grant the adoption as long as you, your spouse, or the child is a Michigan resident. The other parent living in another state does not prevent it.

The age of the person being adopted matters too.

• Children: Michigan's child consent age is 14 (MCL § 710.43), so the child's own consent comes into play at that age.
• Adults: Michigan permits adult adoption. The adult being adopted must consent (MCL 710.43(3)). Anyone who is 18 or older is treated as an adult for this purpose.

What to expect once you file.

• Home study: An investigation is part of the process (MCL § 710.46).
• Timeline: A stepparent adoption typically takes 3-6 months, and an adult adoption typically takes 4-8 weeks.
• Court filing fees: Typically $200-$500. The total cost is typically under $1,000, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ for an attorney.
• Other parent's rights: If the other parent will not consent, the abandonment period is 24 months (MCL § 710.51). Contested situations depend heavily on the facts, so talk to the court clerk or an attorney about your specific case.
• Attorney: Michigan allows self-representation in stepparent adoptions.

Same-sex couples and multiple children. Michigan recognizes all valid marriages and allows stepparent adoption regardless of the couple's gender. You can also include more than one stepchild 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 county. You then file it yourself, without an attorney.