Filing Instructions for Adult Adoptions

THE CIRCUIT COURT

FOR THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF MICHIGAN

FAMILY DIVISION – JUVENILE

The mission of the Adoptions Unit is to help ensure permanently joined bonded family units through the timely

completion of parental rights’ termination, formal placement into approved homes, adoption finalization, and

the delivery of efficient post adoption services.

General Rules

1. The Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan, Family Division, processes adoption petitions for Wayne

County residents only.

2. The Court is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Appointments to initiate the adoption process will be

scheduled during these hours.

3. Anyone eighteen years of age, or older, is considered an adult. In an adult adoption, a formal hearing

will be scheduled for a future date, after the Petition for Adoption has been filed. At the hearing, the

adult adoptee must consent to the adoption. If the adult adoptee resides outside of Wayne County, a

consent form will be mailed to the adult adoptee. The consent must be executed in a Court of Record, in

the county of residence.

4. Termination of parental rights is not necessary for an adult adoption. However, notice of hearing will be

mailed to the biological parent(s).

5. Once the adoption has been completed, a new birth certificate may be created with only the adoptive

parent(s) names listed as parent(s). A former parent’s name, who did not join in the Petition for

Adoption, cannot be added to the adoptive birth record.

Qualifications for the Acceptance and Processing of the Adoption Petition

1. Petitioners and/or Adoptee must be residents of Wayne County. (Proof of residence is required)

2. The Court will not accept a Petition for Adoption if a petitioner has been convicted of any of the

following offenses:

a. Accosting, enticing or Soliciting Children for Immoral Purposes

b. Production of Child Pornographic Material

c. Criminal Sexual Conduct (I-IV)

d. Assault with Attempt to Commit Criminal Sexual Conduct

3. The Judge assigned to the case may consider the following factors when deciding whether to grant the

Petition for Adoption:

a. Three or more traffic convictions involving alcohol without verifiable proof of rehabilitation.

b. Any felony convictions within the past ten years.

c. Protective Services involvement with substantiated complaints within the last five years.

d. Support arrearages for children from previous relationships.

e. Pending criminal or child protective cases.

f. Outstanding warrants.

4. If any concerns are noted during the screening process, a subsequent meeting and/or court hearing may

be required.

Fees

1. A one hundred ninety-five dollar ($195.00) filing fee, per adoptee, payable either by cash, money order,

or attorney check, must be paid at the time the Petition for Adoption is filed. Personal checks are not

accepted. Money orders and attorney checks should be made payable to the Wayne County Clerk.

2. For adoptees born in Michigan, a check or money order payable to the State of Michigan in the amount

of $50.00, to cover the processing and issuance of the new birth certificate must be paid. Additional

copies may be purchased for $16.00 per copy. For adoptees born outside the State of Michigan, the fee

for the new birth certificate varies from state to state.

3. The filing fee may be waived, if the petitioner is receiving public assistance or can be verified as having

a low income. Verifiable proof of income (i.e. current Medicaid Card for the family, as well as, pay

stubs, income tax returns for the previous year, etc.) must be submitted at the time of the office

interview/appointment. The fee for the new birth certificate cannot be waived.

Documents

1. The following documents, if applicable, are required to file the Petition for Adoption. Certified or true

copies of each of these documents are required. All foreign documents must be translated into English

and must be certified by a certified translator. Hospital “verifications” of birth, and photocopies (non

certified or true copies) of documents will not be accepted:

• Adoptees birth certificate.*

• Petitioners’ birth certificate.

• Petitioners’ marriage certificate to each other, as well as any previous marriage certificates for

either petitioner.

• All divorce decrees.

• Death certificate if a previous marriage ended because of the death of a spouse.

• Death certificate if the mother or father of the adoptee is deceased.*

• All name change orders.

2. Other documents that are required, if applicable:

• Statements/letters from adult adoptee and the petitioner(s) requesting the adoption.*

• Clearances from any past criminal conviction or any alcohol related traffic violations that show

all fines and/or conditions have been satisfied.*

• If petitioner(s)/adoptee(s) are not U.S. citizens, the following documentation is required, if

applicable: valid Resident Alien Card, valid Visa from Immigration & Naturalization Services,

Naturalization documentation (certified/original).

• Completed Adoption Report (MJC 1078), attached.*

*The Adoptions Unit will retain these documents.

Filing the Petition for Adoption

1. The Adoptions Unit is located on the 4

floor of Building B in the James H. Lincoln Hall of Juvenile

Justice. 1025 E. Forest Avenue, Detroit, MI 48207-1098.

2. The prospective adoptive parent(s) or attorney must call (313) 833-1880 to schedule an appointment to

initiate the adoption process.

3. If any petitioner requires a language interpreter, please make this request at the time you schedule the

appointment. The court will request an interpreter be present at the appointment on your behalf.

4. The attached Adoption Report (MJC 1078) must be completed prior to the scheduled office appointment.

5. The prospective adoptive parent(s) must be present at the scheduled appointment time, unless being

represented by an attorney.

• Should you retain an attorney to represent you, the attorney must review the “Attorney Instruction”

packet and prepare the required forms.

6. During the scheduled office appointment all documents will be screened and clearances/record checks will

be completed in the following areas:

• LEIN system (criminal)

• Juvenile neglect/delinquency search

• Third Circuit Court of Michigan – Friend of the Court

7. Should all of the criteria be met, the Petition for Adoption will be prepared and a court date will be

scheduled for a future date before the assigned adoption judge.

Revised 7/2018

STATE OF MICHIGAN

THIRD CIRCUIT COURT

WAYNE COUNTY

ADOPTION REPORT

FILE NO.

Complete this entire form. Print or type the entire report. If certain areas do not apply, write or type N/A. If

more space is needed, use the back side of the form.

PETITIONERS INFORMATION

PETITIONER 1

PETITIONER 2

Name (First, Middle, Last)

Birth Date

Social Security Number

Driver License Number

Address

City, State and Zip

Telephone Number

Petitioner’s Mother’s Name

and Date of Birth

(Parent of person adopting)

Petitioner’s Father’s Name

And Date of Birth

(Parent of person adopting)

Education Level

(Name of School & Grade

Completed)

Employer

Job Title

Current Yearly Income

Military History (if yes, indicate

date of discharge)

Chronic or Terminal Illnesses

Date of Last Physical Exam

All Previous Marriages

(if yes,

name of spouse(s)

Has support been ordered for

any other child from a

previous marriage or

relationship?

List all Criminal Convictions

Are there any pending

warrants for your arrest? (If

yes, list the district of the offense.)

List all Alcohol-Related

Traffic Convictions

Child Protective Services

Involvement

Did the biological/custodial

parent ever receive aid from

the State? If yes, when?

(Step-Parent adoptions only).

Have you previously been

approved to adopt a child?

If so, when? Also, if an

agency was involved, please

name the agency.

Are you currently, or have

you ever been a licensed

foster parent? If so, through

which agency?

ADOPTEE INFORMATION

(Child(ren) to be Adopted)

Name

(First, Middle and Last)

Date of Birth

Social Security Number

Place of Birth (city, county, state)

Length of time in home

Physical Health

Grade in School

Hobbies

Adoptee’s feelings regarding

the Adoption

Gender

(M or F )

& Race

Is the adoptee a Native

American Indian, if so, which

tribe.

Marital Status

(only applicable

for Adult Adoptions: single married,

divorced, separated or widowed).

ALL OTHER ADULTS CURRENTLY

RESIDING IN THE HOME

NAME

GENDER

(Male/Female)

RACE

MARITAL

STATUS

SOCIAL

SECURITY

NUMBER

DATE OF

BIRTH

ALL OTHER CHILDREN CURRENTLY RESIDING IN THE HOME

NAME

GENDER

(Male/Female)

RACE

SOCIAL SECURITY

NUMBER

DATE OF BIRTH

BIRTH PARENT INFORMATION

BIOLOGICAL FATHER

BIOLOGICAL MOTHER

Name (First, Middle, Last)

Birth Date

Social Security Number

Address

City, State and Zip

Name of Mother of Biological

Parent

Name of Father of Biological

Parent

Siblings of Biological Parent

Education Level

(Name of School & Grade

Completed)

Physical Description

Current Employment

Current Marital Status

Name of Spouse

Names of other children from

previous or current

relationships/marriages

Chronic or Terminal Illnesses

Did the biological mother ever

receive aid from the State? If

yes, when?

N/A

Race

Falsification of any information on this form may result in the Petition for Adoption being denied.

Petitioner’s Signature

Date

Petitioner’s Signature (if two-parent adoption)

Date

MJC 1078 (01/2016)