HB-6010, As Passed Senate, December 8, 2004                                 

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                          SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR                                 

                                                                                

                           HOUSE BILL NO. 6010                                  

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1939 PA 288, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Probate code of 1939,"                                                     

                                                                                

    by amending sections 21a, 22, 23a, 23d, 24, 24a, and 56 of                  

                                                                                

    chapter X (MCL 710.21a, 710.22, 710.23a, 710.23d, 710.24,                   

                                                                                

    710.24a, and 710.56), section 21a as added by 1982 PA 72,                   

                                                                                

    sections 22, 24, and 24a as amended by 1996 PA 409, section 23a             

                                                                                

    as amended by 1994 PA 373, section 23d as amended by 2004 PA 68,            

                                                                                

    and section 56 as amended by 1994 PA 240.                                   

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1                               CHAPTER X                                       

                                                                                

2       Sec. 21a.  The general purposes of this chapter are:                        

                                                                                

3       (a) To provide that each adoptee in this state who needs                    

                                                                                

4   adoption services receives those services.                                  

                                                                                

5       (b) To provide procedures and services  which  that will                    

                                                                                

6   safeguard and promote the best interests of each adoptee in need            

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   of adoption and  which  that will protect the rights of all                 

                                                                                

2   parties concerned.  If conflicts arise between the rights of the            

                                                                                

3   adoptee and the rights of another, the rights of the adoptee                

                                                                                

4   shall be paramount.                                                         

                                                                                

5       (c) To provide prompt legal proceedings to assure that the                  

                                                                                

6   adoptee is free for adoptive placement at the earliest possible             

                                                                                

7   time.                                                                       

                                                                                

8       (d) To achieve permanency and stability for adoptees as                     

                                                                                

9   quickly as possible.                                                        

                                                                                

10      (e) To support the permanency of a finalized adoption by                    

                                                                                

11  allowing all interested parties to participate in proceedings               

                                                                                

12  regarding the adoptee.                                                      

                                                                                

13      Sec. 22.  As used in this chapter:                                          

                                                                                

14      (a) "Adoptee" means the individual who is to be adopted,                    

                                                                                

15  regardless of whether the individual is a child or an adult.                

                                                                                

16      (b) "Adoption attorney" means an attorney acting as counsel                 

                                                                                

17  in an adoption proceeding or case.  a direct placement adoption             

                                                                                

18  who meets all of the following requirements:                                

                                                                                

19                                                                               (i) Has completed at least 12 hours of continuing education                         

                                                                                

20  in this state during the past 5 years in courses integrating the            

                                                                                

21  legal and social aspects of adoption.                                       

                                                                                

22      (ii) Maintains an up-to-date file of individuals licensed or                 

                                                                                

23  registered under either the public health code, Act No. 368 of              

                                                                                

24  the Public Acts of 1978, being sections 333.1101 to 333.25211 of            

                                                                                

25  the Michigan Compiled Laws, or the occupational code, Act No. 299           

                                                                                

26  of the Public Acts of 1980, being sections 339.101 to 339.2721 of           

                                                                                

27  the Michigan Compiled Laws, and agencies to whom referrals may be           


                                                                                

1   made for counseling services needed by an adoption client.                  

                                                                                

2       (iii) Has registered as an adoption attorney with the                        

                                                                                

3   children's ombudsman as provided in section 5 of the foster care            

                                                                                

4   and adoption services act, Act No. 203 of the Public Acts of                

                                                                                

5   1994, being sections 722.951 to 722.960 of the Michigan Compiled            

                                                                                

6   Laws.                                                                       

                                                                                

7       (c) "Adult former sibling" means an individual who is 18                    

                                                                                

8   years of age or older and is related to an adult adoptee either             

                                                                                

9   biologically or through adoption by at least 1 common parent,               

                                                                                

10  regardless of whether the adult former sibling ever lived in the            

                                                                                

11  same household as the adult adoptee.                                        

                                                                                

12      (d) "Agency placement" means a placement in which a child                   

                                                                                

13  placing agency, the department, or a court selects the adoptive             

                                                                                

14  parent for the child and transfers physical custody of the child            

                                                                                

15  to the prospective adoptive parent.                                         

                                                                                

16      (e) "Applicant" means an individual or individuals who desire               

                                                                                

17  to adopt a child and who have submitted an adoption application             

                                                                                

18  to a child placing agency.                                                  

                                                                                

19      (f)  (e)  "Attending practitioner" means a licensed physician               

                                                                                

20  or a registered professional nurse certified as a nurse midwife             

                                                                                

21  by the Michigan board of nursing.                                           

                                                                                

22      (g)  (f)  "Best interests of the adoptee" or "best interests                

                                                                                

23  of the child" means the sum total of the following factors to be            

                                                                                

24  considered, evaluated, and determined by the court to be applied            

                                                                                

25  to give the adoptee permanence at the earliest possible date:               

                                                                                

26                                                                               (i) The love, affection, and other emotional ties existing                          

                                                                                

27  between the adopting individual or individuals and the adoptee              


                                                                                

1   or, in the case of a hearing under section 39 of this chapter,              

                                                                                

2   the putative father and the adoptee.                                        

                                                                                

3       (ii) The capacity and disposition of the adopting individual                 

                                                                                

4   or individuals or, in the case of a hearing under section 39 of             

                                                                                

5   this chapter, the putative father to give the adoptee love,                 

                                                                                

6   affection, and guidance, and to educate and create a milieu that            

                                                                                

7   fosters the religion, racial identity, and culture of the                   

                                                                                

8   adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

9       (iii) The capacity and disposition of the adopting individual                

                                                                                

10  or individuals or, in the case of a hearing under section 39 of             

                                                                                

11  this chapter, the putative father, to provide the adoptee with              

                                                                                

12  food, clothing, education, permanence, medical care or other                

                                                                                

13  remedial care recognized and permitted under the laws of this               

                                                                                

14  state in place of medical care, and other material needs.                   

                                                                                

15      (iv) The length of time the adoptee has lived in a stable,                   

                                                                                

16  satisfactory environment, and the desirability of maintaining               

                                                                                

17  continuity.                                                                 

                                                                                

18      (v) The permanence as a family unit of the proposed adoptive                

                                                                                

19  home, or, in the case of a hearing under section 39 of this                 

                                                                                

20  chapter, the home of the putative father.                                   

                                                                                

21      (vi) The moral fitness of the adopting individual or                         

                                                                                

22  individuals or, in the case of a hearing under section 39 of this           

                                                                                

23  chapter, of the putative father.                                            

                                                                                

24      (vii) The mental and physical health of the adopting                         

                                                                                

25  individual or individuals or, in the case of a hearing under                

                                                                                

26  section 39 of this chapter, of the putative father, and of the              

                                                                                

27  adoptee.                                                                    


                                                                                

1       (viii) The home, school, and community record of the                          

                                                                                

2   adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

3       (ix) The reasonable preference of the adoptee, if the adoptee                

                                                                                

4   is 14 years of age or less and if the court considers the adoptee           

                                                                                

5   to be of sufficient age to express a preference.                            

                                                                                

6       (x) The ability and willingness of the adopting individual or               

                                                                                

7   individuals to adopt the adoptee's siblings.                                

                                                                                

8       (xi) Any other factor considered by the court to be relevant                 

                                                                                

9   to a particular adoption proceeding, or to a putative father's              

                                                                                

10  request for child custody.                                                  

                                                                                

11      (h)  (g)  "Born out of wedlock" means a child conceived and                 

                                                                                

12  born to a woman who was not married from the conception to the              

                                                                                

13  date of birth of the child, or a child whom the court has                   

                                                                                

14  determined to be a child born during a marriage but not the issue           

                                                                                

15  of that marriage.                                                           

                                                                                

16      (i)  (h)  "Central adoption registry" means the registry                    

                                                                                

17  established by the department  pursuant to  under section 27b of            

                                                                                

18  this chapter to control the release of identifying adoption                 

                                                                                

19  information.                                                                

                                                                                

20      (j)  (i)  "Child" means an individual less than 18 years of                 

                                                                                

21  age.                                                                        

                                                                                

22      (k)  (j)  "Child placing agency" means a private organization               

                                                                                

23  licensed under  Act No. 116 of the Public Acts of 1973, being               

                                                                                

24  sections 722.111 to 722.128 of the Michigan Compiled Laws  1973             

                                                                                

25  PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128, to place children for adoption.             

                                                                                

26                                                                               (l)  (k)  "Consent" means a document in which all parental                           

                                                                                

27  rights over a specific child are voluntarily relinquished to the            


                                                                                

1   court for placement with a specific adoptive parent.                        

                                                                                

2       (m)  (l)  "Court" means the family division of circuit court                

                                                                                

3   of this state, or  when  if the context requires, the court                 

                                                                                

4   having jurisdiction over adoption in another state or country.              

                                                                                

5       (n)  (m)  "Department" means the family independence agency.                

                                                                                

6       (o)  (n)  "Direct placement" means a placement in which a                   

                                                                                

7   parent or guardian selects an adoptive parent for a child, other            

                                                                                

8   than a stepparent or an individual related to the child within              

                                                                                

9   the fifth degree by marriage, blood, or adoption, and transfers             

                                                                                

10  physical custody of the child to the prospective adoptive                   

                                                                                

11  parent.                                                                     

                                                                                

12      (p)  (o)  "Formal placement" means a placement that is                      

                                                                                

13  approved by the court under section 51 of this chapter.                     

                                                                                

14      (q)  (p)  "Person" means an individual, partnership,                        

                                                                                

15  corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal               

                                                                                

16  entity.                                                                     

                                                                                

17      (r)  (q)  "Petitioner", except as used in section 68b of this               

                                                                                

18  chapter, means the individual or individuals who file an adoption           

                                                                                

19  petition with the court.                                                    

                                                                                

20      (s)  (r)  "Placement" or "to place" means selection of an                   

                                                                                

21  adoptive parent for a child and transfer of physical custody of             

                                                                                

22  the child to a prospective adoptive parent  pursuant  according             

                                                                                

23  to this chapter.                                                            

                                                                                

24      (t) "Relative" means an individual who is related to the                    

                                                                                

25  child within the fifth degree by marriage, blood, or adoption.              

                                                                                

26      (u)  (s)  "Release" means a document in which all parental                  

                                                                                

27  rights over a specific child are voluntarily relinquished to the            


                                                                                

1   department or to a child placing agency.                                    

                                                                                

2       (v)  (t)  "Rescission petition" means a petition filed by an                

                                                                                

3   adult adoptee and his or her parent whose rights have been                  

                                                                                

4   terminated to rescind the adoption in which a stepparent acquired           

                                                                                

5   parental rights and to restore parental rights of that parent               

                                                                                

6   pursuant  according to section 66 of this chapter.                         

                                                                                

7       (w)  (u)  "Suitable to be a parent of an adoptee" means a                   

                                                                                

8   conclusion that there is no specific concern with respect to an             

                                                                                

9   individual that would suggest that placement of any child, or a             

                                                                                

10  particular child, in the home of the individual would pose a risk           

                                                                                

11  of harm to the physical or psychological well-being of the                  

                                                                                

12  child.                                                                      

                                                                                

13      (x)  (v)  "Temporary placement" means a placement that occurs               

                                                                                

14  before court approval under section 51 of this chapter and that             

                                                                                

15  meets the requirements of section 23d of this chapter.                      

                                                                                

16      (y)  (w)  "Within the fifth degree by marriage, blood, or                   

                                                                                

17  adoption" means any of the following relationships:  parent,                

                                                                                

18  step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, brother,                        

                                                                                

19  step-brother, sister, step-sister, uncle, step-uncle, aunt,                 

                                                                                

20  step-aunt, first cousin, step-first cousin, great aunt,                     

                                                                                

21  step-great aunt, great uncle, step-great uncle, great                       

                                                                                

22  grandparent, step-great grandparent, first cousin once removed,             

                                                                                

23  step-first cousin once removed, great great grandparent,                    

                                                                                

24  step-great great grandparent, great great uncle, step-great great           

                                                                                

25  uncle, great great aunt, step-great great aunt, great great great           

                                                                                

26  grandparent, or step-great great great grandparent.                         

                                                                                

27      Sec. 23a.  (1) A parent or guardian having legal and                        


                                                                                

1   physical custody of a child may make a direct placement of the              

                                                                                

2   child for adoption by making a temporary placement under section            

                                                                                

3   23d of this chapter or a formal placement under section 51 of               

                                                                                

4   this chapter.  A temporary placement becomes a formal placement             

                                                                                

5   when the court orders the termination of the rights of the parent           

                                                                                

6   or parents or the guardian and approves placement  pursuant to              

                                                                                

7   under section 51 of this chapter.  A formal placement under                 

                                                                                

8   section 51 of this chapter  does  is not  have  required to be              

                                                                                

9   preceded by a temporary placement.                                          

                                                                                

10      (2) A parent or guardian shall personally select a                          

                                                                                

11  prospective adoptive parent in a direct placement.  The selection           

                                                                                

12  shall not be delegated.                                                     

                                                                                

13      (3) In a direct placement the prospective adoptive parent, an               

                                                                                

14  adoption attorney, or a child placing agency shall provide                  

                                                                                

15  information about a prospective adoptive parent to the parent or            

                                                                                

16  guardian before placement.  This information shall include the              

                                                                                

17  specific information contained in a preplacement assessment as              

                                                                                

18  described in section 23f of this chapter, and may include                   

                                                                                

19  additional information requested by the parent or guardian.  The            

                                                                                

20  information does not have to include identifying information                

                                                                                

21  described in section 27(3) of this chapter.  The parent or                  

                                                                                

22  guardian and the prospective adoptive parent shall determine                

                                                                                

23  whether to exchange identifying information and whether to meet             

                                                                                

24  each other.                                                                 

                                                                                

25      (4) A parent or guardian having legal and physical custody of               

                                                                                

26  a child may make a formal placement of the child for adoption               

                                                                                

27  under section 51 of this chapter with a stepparent or  an                   


                                                                                

1   individual who is related to the child within the fifth degree by           

                                                                                

2   marriage, blood, or adoption  a relative.                                   

                                                                                

3       (5) The court may allow the child to attend his or her                      

                                                                                

4   adoption hearing held under this act.                                       

                                                                                

5       Sec. 23d.  (1) In a direct placement, a parent or guardian                  

                                                                                

6   with legal and physical custody of a child may make a temporary             

                                                                                

7   placement of the child as prescribed by this section.  In an                

                                                                                

8   agency placement, a child placing agency with written                       

                                                                                

9   authorization from the parent or guardian as prescribed by                  

                                                                                

10  section 23b of this chapter may make a temporary placement of the           

                                                                                

11  child as prescribed by this section.  A temporary placement shall           

                                                                                

12  meet all of the following requirements:                                     

                                                                                

13      (a) The prospective adoptive parent with whom a child is                    

                                                                                

14  temporarily placed has had a preplacement assessment completed              

                                                                                

15  within 1 year before the date of the transfer with a finding that           

                                                                                

16  the prospective adoptive parent is suitable to be a parent of an            

                                                                                

17  adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

18      (b) In a direct placement, the parent or guardian is assisted               

                                                                                

19  by an adoption attorney or a child placing agency.                          

                                                                                

20      (c) In the presence of a witness who also signs the document,               

                                                                                

21  the parent, guardian, or representative of the child placing                

                                                                                

22  agency signs a statement evidencing the transfer of physical                

                                                                                

23  custody of the child.  If the parent making the temporary                   

                                                                                

24  placement is an unemancipated minor, the statement is not valid             

                                                                                

25  unless it is also signed in the presence of the witness by a                

                                                                                

26  parent or guardian of that minor parent.  The statement shall               

                                                                                

27  contain all of the following:                                               


                                                                                

1                                                                                (i) The date of the transfer of physical custody.                                   

                                                                                

2       (ii) Language providing that the transfer is for the purpose                 

                                                                                

3   of adoption by the prospective adoptive parent.                             

                                                                                

4       (iii) Language indicating that unless the parent or guardian                 

                                                                                

5   and the prospective adoptive parent agree otherwise, the                    

                                                                                

6   prospective adoptive parent has the authority to consent to all             

                                                                                

7   medical, surgical, psychological, educational, and related                  

                                                                                

8   services for the child and language indicating that the parent or           

                                                                                

9   guardian otherwise retains full parental rights to the child                

                                                                                

10  being temporarily placed and that the temporary placement may be            

                                                                                

11  revoked by the filing of a petition under subsection (5).                   

                                                                                

12      (iv) Language providing that the person making the transfer                  

                                                                                

13  has read a preplacement assessment of the prospective adoptive              

                                                                                

14  parent completed or updated within 1 year before the date of the            

                                                                                

15  transfer with a finding that the prospective adoptive parent is             

                                                                                

16  suitable to be a parent of an adoptee.  If a child placing agency           

                                                                                

17  makes the transfer of physical custody, the statement shall                 

                                                                                

18  include a verification that the child placing agency has given              

                                                                                

19  the parent or guardian who authorized the temporary placement an            

                                                                                

20  opportunity to review the preplacement assessment.                          

                                                                                

21      (v) Even if only 1 parent is making the temporary placement,                

                                                                                

22  the name and address of both parents of the child, including in             

                                                                                

23  the case of a child born out of wedlock, the name and the address           

                                                                                

24  of each putative father of the child, if known.                             

                                                                                

25      (d) In the presence of a witness who also signs the document,               

                                                                                

26  the prospective adoptive parent signs a statement setting forth             

                                                                                

27  the date of the transfer of physical custody and the name and               


                                                                                

1   address of the prospective adoptive parent and attesting to all             

                                                                                

2   of the following:                                                           

                                                                                

3                                                                                (i) That the prospective adoptive parent understands that the                       

                                                                                

4   temporary placement will not become a formal placement until the            

                                                                                

5   parents consent or release their parental rights and the court              

                                                                                

6   orders the termination of parental rights and approves the                  

                                                                                

7   placement and that the prospective adoptive parent must                     

                                                                                

8   relinquish custody of the child within 24 hours after being                 

                                                                                

9   served with an order under section 23e(2) of this chapter.                  

                                                                                

10      (ii) That, if the prospective adoptive parent is a Michigan                  

                                                                                

11  resident, the prospective adoptive parent agrees to reside with             

                                                                                

12  the child in Michigan until formal placement occurs.                        

                                                                                

13      (iii) That the prospective adoptive parent agrees to obtain                  

                                                                                

14  approval in compliance with the interstate compact on the                   

                                                                                

15  placement of children, 1984 PA 114, MCL 3.711 to 3.717, before              

                                                                                

16  the child is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought into            

                                                                                

17  a receiving state as that term is defined in section 1 of the               

                                                                                

18  interstate compact on the placement of children, 1984 PA 114, MCL           

                                                                                

19  3.711.                                                                      

                                                                                

20      (iv) That the prospective adoptive parent submits to this                    

                                                                                

21  state's jurisdiction.                                                       

                                                                                

22      (2) Not later than 2 days, excluding weekends and holidays,                 

                                                                                

23  after a transfer of physical custody of a child in accordance               

                                                                                

24  with subsection (1), the adoption attorney or child placing                 

                                                                                

25  agency who assists with the temporary placement or the child                

                                                                                

26  placing agency that makes the temporary placement shall submit to           

                                                                                

27  the court in the county in which the child's parent or guardian             


                                                                                

1   or the prospective adoptive parent resides, or in which the child           

                                                                                

2   is found, a report that contains all of the following:                      

                                                                                

3       (a) The date of the transfer of physical custody.                           

                                                                                

4       (b) The name and address of the parent or guardian or the                   

                                                                                

5   child placing agency who made the temporary placement.                      

                                                                                

6       (c) The name and address of the prospective adoptive parent                 

                                                                                

7   with whom the temporary placement was made.                                 

                                                                                

8       (d) Even if only 1 parent is making the temporary placement,                

                                                                                

9   the name and address of both parents of the child, including, in            

                                                                                

10  the case of a child born out of wedlock, the name of each                   

                                                                                

11  putative father, if known.                                                  

                                                                                

12      (e) The documents required under subsection (1)(c) and (d)                  

                                                                                

13  and, if applicable, the authorization required under section 23b            

                                                                                

14  of this chapter.                                                            

                                                                                

15      (3) Not later than 30 days after the transfer of physical                   

                                                                                

16  custody of a child under this section, the adoption attorney or             

                                                                                

17  child placing agency who assists with the temporary placement or            

                                                                                

18  the child placing agency that makes the temporary placement shall           

                                                                                

19  submit to the court that received the report described in                   

                                                                                

20  subsection (2) a report indicating whether or not 1 of the                  

                                                                                

21  following dispositions has occurred:                                        

                                                                                

22      (a) A petition for adoption of the child has been filed.                    

                                                                                

23      (b) The child has been returned to the agency or to a parent                

                                                                                

24  or other person having legal custody.                                       

                                                                                

25      (4) If the court has not received the report required under                 

                                                                                

26  subsection (3) within 45 days after the transfer of physical                

                                                                                

27  custody of a child, the court shall immediately investigate and             


                                                                                

1   determine whether an adoption petition has been filed or the                

                                                                                

2   child has been returned to a parent or other person having legal            

                                                                                

3   custody.  If the report required under subsection (3) or the                

                                                                                

4   court's investigation reveals that neither disposition has                  

                                                                                

5   occurred, the court shall immediately report to the prosecutor,             

                                                                                

6   who shall immediately file a petition in the court that received            

                                                                                

7   the report described in subsection (2) for disposition of the               

                                                                                

8   child as required by section 23e of this chapter.  If a petition            

                                                                                

9   has been filed under subsection (5), (6), or (7), the prosecutor            

                                                                                

10  is not required to file a petition.                                         

                                                                                

11      (5) A parent or guardian who wishes to regain custody of a                  

                                                                                

12  child who has been placed temporarily shall file a petition in              

                                                                                

13  the court that received the report described in subsection (2)              

                                                                                

14  requesting that the temporary placement be revoked and that the             

                                                                                

15  child be returned to the parent or guardian.  Upon request of the           

                                                                                

16  parent or guardian, the adoption attorney or child placing agency           

                                                                                

17  who assisted in making the temporary placement shall assist the             

                                                                                

18  parent or guardian in filing the petition to revoke the temporary           

                                                                                

19  placement.  If the temporary placement was made by a child                  

                                                                                

20  placing agency under section 23b(3) of this chapter, the child              

                                                                                

21  placing agency shall file the petition on behalf of a parent or             

                                                                                

22  guardian who wishes to regain custody of the child.                         

                                                                                

23      (6) If a prospective adoptive parent with whom a child has                  

                                                                                

24  been temporarily placed is either unwilling or unable to proceed            

                                                                                

25  with the adoption, the prospective adoptive parent may file a               

                                                                                

26  petition in the court that received the report described in                 

                                                                                

27  subsection (2) for disposition of the child as required by                  


                                                                                

1   section 23e of this chapter.                                                

                                                                                

2       (7) If a child placing agency that temporarily placed a child               

                                                                                

3   is unable to proceed with an adoption because of the                        

                                                                                

4   unavailability of a parent or guardian to execute a release, or             

                                                                                

5   if a child placing agency with legal custody of a child decides             

                                                                                

6   not to proceed with the adoption by a prospective adoptive parent           

                                                                                

7   with whom the child has been temporarily placed and the                     

                                                                                

8   prospective adoptive parent refuses upon the agency's request to            

                                                                                

9   return the child to the agency, the child placing agency shall              

                                                                                

10  file a petition in the court that received the report described             

                                                                                

11  in subsection (2) for disposition of the child as required by               

                                                                                

12  section 23e of this chapter.                                                

                                                                                

13      (8) Except as otherwise agreed to by the parties, the                       

                                                                                

14  prospective adoptive parent with whom a child is temporarily                

                                                                                

15  placed under this section may consent to all medical, surgical,             

                                                                                

16  psychological, educational, and related services for the child.             

                                                                                

17      (9) A hospital or attending practitioner shall not release a                

                                                                                

18  child to an individual or agency not otherwise legally entitled             

                                                                                

19  to the physical custody of the child unless all of the                      

                                                                                

20  requirements of subsection (1) are met.                                     

                                                                                

21      Sec. 24.  (1) If a person desires to adopt a child or an                    

                                                                                

22  adult and to bestow upon the adoptee his or her family name, or             

                                                                                

23  to adopt a child or an adult without a name change,  of name,               

                                                                                

24  with the intent to make the adoptee his or her heir, that person,           

                                                                                

25  together with his wife or her husband, if married, shall file a             

                                                                                

26  petition with the court of the county in which the petitioner               

                                                                                

27  resides or where the adoptee is found or, if the petitioner and             


                                                                                

1   adoptee reside out of state, where the parent's parental rights             

                                                                                

2   were terminated or are pending terminationIf both parents'               

                                                                                

3   parental rights were terminated at different times and in                   

                                                                                

4   different courts, a petition filed under this section shall be              

                                                                                

5   filed in the court of the county where parental rights were first           

                                                                                

6   terminated. If there has been a temporary placement of the child,           

                                                                                

7   the petition for adoption shall be filed with the court that                

                                                                                

8   received the report described in section 23d(2) of this chapter.            

                                                                                

9       (2) In an adoption proceeding in which there is more than 1                 

                                                                                

10  applicant, the petition for adoption shall be filed with the                

                                                                                

11  court of the county where the parent's parental rights were                 

                                                                                

12  terminated or are pending termination.  If both parents' parental           

                                                                                

13  rights were terminated at different times and in different                  

                                                                                

14  courts, a petition filed under this section shall be filed in the           

                                                                                

15  court of the county where parental rights were first terminated.            

                                                                                

16      (3) If a petition to adopt is filed in a county other than                  

                                                                                

17  that in which the petitioner resides or the prospective adoptee             

                                                                                

18  is found, the chief judge of the court may, upon motion, enter an           

                                                                                

19  order transferring jurisdiction of the matter to the court of the           

                                                                                

20  county in which the petitioner resides or the prospective adoptee           

                                                                                

21  is found.                                                                   

                                                                                

22      (4)  (2)  The petition for adoption shall be verified by each               

                                                                                

23  petitioner and shall contain the following information:                     

                                                                                

24      (a) The name, date and place of birth, and place of residence               

                                                                                

25  of each petitioner, including the maiden name of the adopting               

                                                                                

26  mother.                                                                     

                                                                                

27      (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection  (5)  (7), the               


                                                                                

1   name, date and place of birth, and place of residence if known of           

                                                                                

2   the adoptee.                                                                

                                                                                

3       (c) The relationship, if any, of the adoptee to the                         

                                                                                

4   petitioner.                                                                 

                                                                                

5       (d) The full name by which the adoptee shall be known after                 

                                                                                

6   adoption.                                                                   

                                                                                

7       (e) The full description of the property, if any, of the                    

                                                                                

8   adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

9       (f) Unless the rights of the parents have been terminated by                

                                                                                

10  a court of competent jurisdiction or except as otherwise provided           

                                                                                

11  in subsection  (5)  (7), the names of the parents of the adoptee            

                                                                                

12  and the place of residence of each living parent if known.                  

                                                                                

13      (g) Except as otherwise provided in subsection  (5)  (7), the               

                                                                                

14  name and place of residence of the guardian of the person or                

                                                                                

15  estate of the adoptee, if any has been appointed.                           

                                                                                

16      (5)  (3)  In a direct placement, the petitioner shall attach                

                                                                                

17  to the petition a verified statement certifying that the                    

                                                                                

18  petitioner has been informed of the availability of counseling              

                                                                                

19  services and whether the petitioner has received counseling.                

                                                                                

20      (6)  (4)  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, in               

                                                                                

21  a direct placement, the petitioner shall attach a copy of a                 

                                                                                

22  preplacement assessment of the petitioner completed or updated              

                                                                                

23  within 1 year before the petition is filed with a finding that              

                                                                                

24  the petitioner is suitable to be a parent of an adoptee, copies             

                                                                                

25  of all other preplacement assessments of the petitioner, if any             

                                                                                

26  others have been completed, and a verified statement stating that           

                                                                                

27  no preplacement assessments of the petitioner have been completed           


                                                                                

1   other than those attached to the petition and explaining any                

                                                                                

2   preplacement assessments of the petitioner that have been                   

                                                                                

3   initiated but not completed.  If the petitioner is seeking review           

                                                                                

4   of a preplacement assessment under section 23f(8) of this                   

                                                                                

5   chapter, the petitioner may comply with this subsection by                  

                                                                                

6   attaching a copy of that preplacement assessment and a copy of              

                                                                                

7   the application for review, together with copies of all other               

                                                                                

8   preplacement assessments and the verified statement required by             

                                                                                

9   this section.                                                               

                                                                                

10      (7)  (5)  In a direct placement in which the parties have                   

                                                                                

11  elected not to exchange identifying information, the information            

                                                                                

12  required by subsection  (2)(f)  (4)(f) and (g) and the surname              

                                                                                

13  and place of residence of the adoptee required under subsection             

                                                                                

14  (2)(b)  (4)(b) may be omitted.  The attorney or child placing              

                                                                                

15  agency assisting in the adoption shall file a verified statement            

                                                                                

16  containing the omitted information.                                         

                                                                                

17      Sec. 24a.  (1) Interested parties in a petition for adoption                

                                                                                

18  are all of the following:                                                   

                                                                                

19      (a) The petitioner or petitioners.                                          

                                                                                

20      (b) The adoptee, if over 14 years of age.                                   

                                                                                

21      (c) A minor parent, adult parent, or surviving parent of an                 

                                                                                

22  adoptee, unless 1 or more of the following apply:                           

                                                                                

23                                                                               (i) The rights of the parent have been terminated by a court                        

                                                                                

24  of competent jurisdiction.                                                  

                                                                                

25      (ii) A guardian of the adoptee, with specific authority to                   

                                                                                

26  consent to adoption, has been appointed.                                    

                                                                                

27      (iii) A guardian of the parent, with specific authority to                   


                                                                                

1   consent to adoption, has been appointed.                                    

                                                                                

2       (iv) The rights of the parent have been released.                            

                                                                                

3       (v) The parent has consented to the granting of the                         

                                                                                

4   petition.                                                                   

                                                                                

5       (d) The department or a child placing agency to which the                   

                                                                                

6   adoptee has been, or for purposes of subsection (3) is proposed             

                                                                                

7   to be, released or committed by an order of the court.                      

                                                                                

8       (e) A parent, guardian, or guardian ad litem of an                          

                                                                                

9   unemancipated minor parent of the adoptee.                                  

                                                                                

10      (f) The court with permanent custody of the adoptee.                        

                                                                                

11      (g) A court with continuing jurisdiction over the adoptee.                  

                                                                                

12      (h) A child placing agency of another state or country that                 

                                                                                

13  has authority to consent to adoption.                                       

                                                                                

14      (i) The guardian or guardian ad litem of an interested                      

                                                                                

15  party.                                                                      

                                                                                

16      (2) Interested parties in a petition for a hearing to                       

                                                                                

17  identify the father of an adoptee and to determine or terminate             

                                                                                

18  his rights are all of the following:                                        

                                                                                

19      (a) The persons set forth in subsection (1).                                

                                                                                

20      (b) A putative father of the adoptee.                                       

                                                                                

21      (3) Interested parties in a proceeding relating to the                      

                                                                                

22  execution of a voluntary release are all of the following:                  

                                                                                

23      (a) The adoptee, if over 5 years of age.                                    

                                                                                

24      (b) The department or a child placing agency to which the                   

                                                                                

25  adoptee is proposed to be released.                                         

                                                                                

26      (c) The person executing the release of parental rights.                    

                                                                                

27      (4) Interested parties in a rescission petition are all of                  


                                                                                

1   the following:                                                              

                                                                                

2       (a) The petitioners.                                                        

                                                                                

3       (b) The stepparent who adopted the adult adoptee.                           

                                                                                

4       (c) The spouse of the parent whose rights were terminated.                  

                                                                                

5       (5) Interested parties in a hearing related to temporary                    

                                                                                

6   placement are all of the following:                                         

                                                                                

7       (a) The parent or guardian who made or authorized the                       

                                                                                

8   temporary placement.                                                        

                                                                                

9       (b) The parent or guardian of an unemancipated minor parent                 

                                                                                

10  of the adoptee.                                                             

                                                                                

11      (c) A child placing agency that was authorized under section                

                                                                                

12  23b of this chapter to make the temporary placement.                        

                                                                                

13      (d) If only 1 parent made or authorized the temporary                       

                                                                                

14  placement, the other parent and each putative father of the                 

                                                                                

15  adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

16      (e) The prospective adoptive parent with whom temporary                     

                                                                                

17  placement was made.                                                         

                                                                                

18      (f) The prosecutor who filed a petition under section 23d of                

                                                                                

19  this chapter.                                                               

                                                                                

20      (g) The guardian ad litem of any interested party, if a                     

                                                                                

21  guardian ad litem has been appointed.                                       

                                                                                

22      (6) In the interest of justice, the court may require                       

                                                                                

23  additional parties to be served.                                            

                                                                                

24      (7) The court shall not appoint a guardian of the adoptee or                

                                                                                

25  of a parent solely for the purpose of defeating that parent's               

                                                                                

26  status as an interested party under this section.                           

                                                                                

27      Sec. 56.  (1) Six months after formal placement  pursuant                   


                                                                                

1   to  under section 51, unless the court determines that                      

                                                                                

2   circumstances have arisen  which  that make adoption undesirable,           

                                                                                

3   the court may enter an order of adoption.  Upon the motion of the           

                                                                                

4   petitioner, the court may waive the 6-month period, or any                  

                                                                                

5   portion of that period, if the waiver is in the best interests of           

                                                                                

6   the adoptee.  If, after a hearing, the court finds that the best            

                                                                                

7   interests of the adoptee will be served, it may extend the                  

                                                                                

8   6-month period for an additional period of time not exceeding 18            

                                                                                

9   months from the time of formal placement for adoption.  In an               

                                                                                

10  adoption proceeding for which an adoption order is not entered              

                                                                                

11  within 18 months after formal placement, the court shall hold a             

                                                                                

12  hearing and determine whether an order of adoption shall be                 

                                                                                

13  entered or the petition denied.  If a child is formally placed              

                                                                                

14  pursuant  according to section 41(2) of this chapter, the court            

                                                                                

15  may extend the 6-month period for an additional period, which may           

                                                                                

16  exceed 18 months from the time of formal placement, until an                

                                                                                

17  order for adoption may be entered under subsection (2).                     

                                                                                

18      (2)  If  Except as provided in subsection (3), if a petition                

                                                                                

19  for rehearing or an appeal as of right from an order terminating            

                                                                                

20  parental rights has been filed, the court shall not order an                

                                                                                

21  adoption until 1 of the following occurs:                                   

                                                                                

22      (a) The petition for rehearing is granted, and at the                       

                                                                                

23  rehearing the order terminating parental rights is not modified             

                                                                                

24  or set aside, and subsequently the period for appeal as of right            

                                                                                

25  to the court of appeals has expired without an appeal being                 

                                                                                

26  filed.                                                                      

                                                                                

27      (b) The petition for rehearing is denied and the period for                 


                                                                                

1   appeal as of right to the court of appeals has expired without an           

                                                                                

2   appeal being filed.                                                         

                                                                                

3       (c) The court of appeals affirms the order terminating                      

                                                                                

4   parental rights.                                                            

                                                                                

5       (3) If an application for leave to appeal has been filed with               

                                                                                

6   the supreme court, the court shall not order an adoption until 1            

                                                                                

7   or more of the following occurs:                                            

                                                                                

8       (a) The application for leave to appeal is denied.                          

                                                                                

9       (b) The supreme court affirms the order terminating parental                

                                                                                

10  rights.                                                                     

                                                                                

11      (4) If a motion brought under section 45 of this chapter has                

                                                                                

12  been filed, the court shall not order an adoption until 1 of the            

                                                                                

13  following occurs:                                                           

                                                                                

14      (a) The motion is decided and subsequently the period for                   

                                                                                

15  appeal as of right to the court of appeals has expired without an           

                                                                                

16  appeal being filed.                                                         

                                                                                

17      (b) The motion is decided, an appeal as of right to the court               

                                                                                

18  of appeals has been filed, the court of appeals issues an                   

                                                                                

19  opinion, and subsequently the period for filing an application              

                                                                                

20  for leave to the supreme court has expired without an application           

                                                                                

21  being filed.                                                                

                                                                                

22      (c) The supreme court denies an application for leave or, if                

                                                                                

23  an application is granted, the supreme court issues an opinion.             

                                                                                

24      (5)  (3)  If the person to be adopted is an adult, the court                

                                                                                

25  may enter an order of adoption after all of the following occur:            

                                                                                

26      (a) The person to be adopted consents to the adoption                       

                                                                                

27  pursuant  according to section 43(3) of this chapter.                      


                                                                                

1       (b) The written report of investigation required by section                 

                                                                                

2   46(2) of this chapter is filed.                                             

                                                                                

3       (c) Notice has been served upon interested parties described                

                                                                                

4   in section 24a of this chapter.