Sterling Heights Adoption Attorneys
Experienced Attorneys Dedicated to Achieving the Best Outcomes
If you are thinking about adopting a child, it would be advisable to learn about the basic procedures used in most types of adoption as well as consult with an experienced adoption attorney. At Corrado Law Group, P.C., we have helped countless parents create the family of their dreams. From helping them with the details of their home study to ensuring you understand how adoption court procedures work, our attorneys are here for you through all the ups and downs of the process of adoption.
How Does the Process of Adoption Work in Michigan?
For any adoption to be legal, the birth parents must consent to the adoption (unless parental rights have been legally terminated for some other reason, such as neglect or abuse). In Michigan, you cannot consent to an adoption until after the child is born, no sooner than 72 hours after birth. After 72 hours from the birth, the parents can sign an out-of-court consent form. This means that birth parents can legally change their minds about adoption at any point before the birth of the child because they have not yet given their consent to the adoption.
Even after the birth parents have given their consent and the child has been placed in the adoptive home, Michigan has a revocation period of 5 business day after the parents have consented to the adoption. five business days.
Investigation of Adoptive Parents
All states require adoptive parents to undergo an investigation to make sure that they are fit to raise a child. This investigation is called a home study. Typically, this study is conducted by a state agency or licensed social worker who examines the adoptive parents’ home life and prepares a report for the court with a positive or negative recommendation for adoption. The court has discretion over the final decision.
The social worker will consider various factors related to the parents’ ability to raise a child including but not limited to the following:
- Financial stability
- Marital stability
- Lifestyle
- Other children
- Career obligations
- Physical and mental health
- Criminal history
In recent years, the home study has become more than just a method of investigating prospective parents as it serves to educate and inform them as well. The social worker helps prepare the adoptive parents by discussing issues with them beforehand. These may include how and when to talk with the child about their adoption and how to deal with reactions to the adoption from friends and family members. If the social worker writes a negative report, the person wishing to adopt may contest it.