17th Circuit Court
Direct Placement Adoptions
“A parent or guardian having legal and physical custody of a child may make a direct placement of the child for adoption[.]” MCL 710.23a(1).
“'Direct placement' means a placement in which a parent or guardian selects an adoptive parent for a child, other than a stepparent or an individual related to the child within the fifth degree by marriage, blood, or adoption, and transfers physical custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parent.” MCL 710.22(o).
Requirements
- MCL 710.55a(1) requires an attorney involved in a direct placement adoption to be an adoption attorney, and prohibits “[a]n attorney or law firm [from] serv[ing] as the attorney for, or provid[ing] legal services to, both a parent or guardian and a prospective adoptive parent.”
- A preplacement assessment completed by a licensed child placing agency is required. The assessment must be current within 1 year of filing.
- Temporary placement paperwork must be filed with the court 48 hours after child is born.
Additional Forms
- Petition For Hearing to Identify Father and Determine or Terminate His Rights
- Declaration of Inability to Identify/Locate Father
- Reference Letter
FAQ
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