Home study
Required
Michigan courts direct a full investigation in every adoption case. We help you prepare for it.
MCL § 710.46
Start today
$349
Complete Michigan package
391 Michigan families helped since 2001
Make Your Michigan Family Official.Michigan stepparent and adult adoption, done for you: court-ready documents for the Family Division of Circuit Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form, answer your questions by phone, and stay with your family until the judge signs your Michigan adoption order.
$349 complete Michigan package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency
No waiting period
Michigan sets no residency requirement, so you can file as soon as your paperwork is ready.
MCL § 710.24(1)Child's consent
Age 14
A child who is 14 or older must give consent to the adoption.
MCL § 710.43Abandonment period
24 months
When the other parent has stayed out of the picture for 24 months, Michigan law gives the court a clear ground to act.
MCL § 710.51
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Michigan families choose us
We make your Michigan adoption simple, fast and affordable.
SimpleA 15-minute questionnaire. We do the rest and send your packet ready to sign and file.
Court approvedPrepared for your Michigan Family Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
391 Michigan families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Michigan courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Michigan adoption specialist handles your case.
- We stay with you from filing to the new birth certificate.
- Unlimited revisions and real people on the phone, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST.
Start Your Michigan AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One Family Court. About 3-6 months.
Michigan handles stepparent adoptions in the Family Division of Circuit Court, and termination is part of the same adoption case, not a separate one.
Day one · a short intakeTell us about your Michigan family
Day one · a short intake
Tell us about your Michigan family
Answer a few questions about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. We turn your answers into the forms Michigan requires. Your documents are ready in 24-48 hours.
Michigan Compiled Laws Chapter 710Week one · filing dayFile with the Family Division of Circuit Court
Week one · filing day
File with the Family Division of Circuit Court
You file your petition with the court clerk in your Michigan county. Michigan has no residency requirement, so there is no waiting period before you file. The court then directs the investigation of your home.
MCL § 710.24(1)The following weeks · notice and consentThe other parent signs, or the court decides
The following weeks · notice and consent
The other parent signs, or the court decides
If the other parent will sign, we prepare the consent. If not, we prepare the notice and the request to end their rights in the same case. Your stepchild adds consent if they are 14 or older.
MCL § 710.51Month three to six · the final hearingHearing, order and new birth certificate
Month three to six · the final hearing
Hearing, order and new birth certificate
The judge reviews your case and signs the order of adoption. We then help you request the new birth certificate from the Michigan Vital Records Office. Your family is legally one.
Michigan Vital Records OfficeDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a child in a stable two-parent home, and most families we help finish without the other parent's consent. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. Michigan law gives the judge a clear path either way.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, the process is simple. They sign a consent, you file it with your petition, and the case moves quickly.
- We prepare the consent form for you
- The other parent signs it and returns it
- The judge reviews it at your hearing
They won't sign, or can't be found
When the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, Michigan has a ground built for that situation.
- Michigan sets the abandonment period at 24 months
- A parent who has stayed out of the child's life for that long can lose parental rights
- The court can then approve the adoption without that parent's signature
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it for you. In Michigan, termination is not a separate case. It is handled as part of the same adoption case.
MCL § 710.51Most families we help move forward without the other parent's signature. We have helped 391 families in Michigan.
One clear price for your Michigan paperwork
Your $349 covers every document prepared for the Family Division of Circuit Court; the court's own filing fee is paid separately.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What Michigan families tell us
★★★★★
We are officially a family! After waiting years to afford an attorney, we found your service and decided to take the leap. I’m so glad we did! The paperwork was detailed and well-organized, and the court accepted everything without any issues. Thank you for making this dream a reality for us.
★★★★★
Things have been crazy around here this summer, so it has taken me a little bit to write to all of you. I just wanted to let you know that we went to court on 06/27/2005 and the judge signed the adoption papers for my son and daughter. Thank you for all your help with the paperwork and getting us started on the road with our adoption.
★★★★★
What a blessing your service has been! My husband was able to adopt my son after years of wanting to make our family whole. The paperwork was flawless, and the court had no issues with any of the documents. You made this process simple and stress-free, and we are forever grateful.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Michigan packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for adoption for the Family Division of Circuit Court
- Consent from the other parent, or notice and termination papers under MCL § 710.51
- Consent form for a stepchild who is 14 or older
- Paperwork to support the court's investigation under MCL § 710.46
- Notice of hearing and supporting court forms
- Final order of adoption and the new birth certificate request for the Michigan Vital Records Office
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult in Michigan is allowed
Michigan lets a person petition to adopt a child or an adult, and the statute sets no relationship, disability or age-gap condition. The adult being adopted must consent, but no other person's consent is required. The adoptee's parents receive notice and do not have to sign. The petition goes to the Family Division of Circuit Court, which needs the investigation report on file, and the statute does not expressly require a hearing for adults. These cases typically take 4-8 weeks.
Who qualifiesNo relationship required
ConsentOnly the adoptee's
InvestigationWritten report required
TimelineTypically 4-8 weeks
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Michigan instructions make the process simple, and we are a phone call away at every step.
1
AnswerTell us about your family in our 15-minute questionnaire. Save and come back any time.2
Review & signYour complete packet arrives in 24–48 hours with step-by-step filing instructions.3
FileFile with your clerk. We stay with you through the hearing, the decree and the new birth certificate.
Talk to a Michigan adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Michigan courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 83 counties
Filed in your Michigan county's Family Court
Michigan has 83 counties, and your case is filed with the Family Division of Circuit Court in the county that fits your family. We prepare your documents for the court, whether you live in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor or anywhere in between.
DetroitGrand RapidsWarrenSterling HeightsAnn Arbor+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Michigan stepparent and adult adoption
Have questions about adopting your stepchild? Our AI assistant draws on experience from over 34,000 completed adoptions to give you accurate, helpful answers. Ask anything — it's free and confidential.
Free & confidential · Not legal advice · Powered by AI
What Michigan families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Michigan?
You file a petition with the Family Division of Circuit Court, complete the court's investigation, get consent or notice handled for the other parent, and attend a hearing. Michigan has no residency requirement under MCL § 710.24(1). A stepparent adoption takes about 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan allows a person to adopt an adult, and the statute sets no relationship or age-gap condition. The adult must consent, but no one else's consent is required. These cases typically take 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Michigan?
Our complete package is $349, with $99 for each additional child. The clerk of your Family Division of Circuit Court sets the filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it.
What if the other parent in Michigan refuses to sign or can't be found?
You can still go forward. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. Michigan's abandonment period is 24 months under MCL § 710.51, and termination is handled in the same case. We prepare the notice for you.
Does Michigan require a home study for stepparent adoption?
Yes. Michigan courts direct a full investigation, and the home study is not waived under MCL § 710.46. We prepare your documents so you are ready for it.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Michigan?
If your stepchild is 14 or older, yes. Michigan requires that child's consent under MCL § 710.43. Younger children do not sign a consent.
Does child support end after a stepparent adoption in Michigan?
Your stepchild's other parent's duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Past-due support depends on Michigan law and is not automatically erased.
How do I get a new birth certificate after adoption in Michigan?
After the judge signs the order of adoption, you request the new birth certificate from the Michigan Vital Records Office. We include that request in your packet.
Go deeper on Michigan adoption
Every guide is written from Michigan law.
How do I adopt an adult in Michigan?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Michigan?How old do you have to be to adopt in Michigan?
All Michigan adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Michigan?
Join the 391 Michigan families we have helped, and call (855) 924-0450 to start your adoption today.
Start Your Michigan Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST