HOUSE BILL No. 6010

 

June 9, 2004, Introduced by Reps. Hardman, Hager, Vander Veen, Waters, McConico, Stallworth and Reeves and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1939 PA 288, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Probate code of 1939,"                                                     

                                                                                

    by amending sections 21a, 22, 23a, 23d, 24, 24a, and 60 of                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

    710.24a, and 710.60), section 21a as added by 1982 PA 72,                   

                                                                                

    sections 22, 23d, 24, 24a, and 60 as amended by 1996 PA 409, and            

                                                                                

    section 23a as amended by 1994 PA 373.                                      

                                                                                

                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            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2   adoptee and the rights of another, the rights of the adoptee                

                                                                                

3   shall be paramount.                                                         

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

5   adoptee is free for adoptive placement at the earliest possible             

                                                                                

6   time.                                                                       

                                                                                

7       (d) To achieve permanency and stability for adoptive children               

                                                                                

8   as quickly as possible.                                                     

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

10  allowing all interested parties to participate in proceedings               

                                                                                

11  regarding the adoptive child.                                               

                                                                                

12      Sec. 22.  As used in this chapter:                                          

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

16  in a direct placement adoption who meets all of the following               

                                                                                

17  requirements:                                                               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

20  legal and social aspects of adoption.                                       

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

24  the Michigan Compiled Laws  1978 PA 368, MCL 333.1101 to                    

                                                                                

25  333.25211, or the occupational code,  Act No. 299 of the Public             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

27  Compiled Laws  1980 PA 299, MCL 339.101 to 339.2721, and agencies           


                                                                                

1   to whom referrals may be made for counseling services needed by             

                                                                                

2   an adoption client.                                                         

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

6   1994, being sections 722.951 to 722.960 of the Michigan Compiled            

                                                                                

7   Laws  1994 PA 203, MCL 722.951 to 722.960.                                  

                                                                                

8       (c) "Adoptive parent" means an individual whose petition for                

                                                                                

9   adoption has been granted by the court through an entry of a                

                                                                                

10  final order of adoption.                                                    

                                                                                

11      (d)  (c)  "Adult former sibling" means an individual who is                 

                                                                                

12  18 years of age or older and is related to an adult adoptee                 

                                                                                

13  either biologically or through adoption by at least 1 common                

                                                                                

14  parent, regardless of whether the adult former sibling ever lived           

                                                                                

15  in the same household as the adult adoptee.                                 

                                                                                

16      (e)  (d)  "Agency placement" means a placement in which a                   

                                                                                

17  child placing agency, the department, or a court selects the                

                                                                                

18  adoptive parent for the child and transfers physical custody of             

                                                                                

19  the child to the prospective adoptive parent.                               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

21  or a registered professional nurse certified as a nurse midwife             

                                                                                

22  by the Michigan board of nursing.                                           

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

1   between the adopting individual or individuals and the adoptee              

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

3   the putative father and the adoptee.                                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

9   adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

14  remedial care recognized and permitted under the laws of this               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

17  satisfactory environment, and the desirability of maintaining               

                                                                                

18  continuity.                                                                 

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

21  chapter, the home of the putative father.                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

24  chapter, of the putative father.                                            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

1   adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

3   adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

6   to be of sufficient age to express a preference.                            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   individuals to adopt the adoptee's siblings.                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  request for child custody.                                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

16  of that marriage.                                                           

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

19  this chapter to control the release of identifying adoption                 

                                                                                

20  information.                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

22  age.                                                                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

25  sections 722.111 to 722.128 of the Michigan Compiled Laws  1973             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

1   rights over a specific child are voluntarily relinquished to the            

                                                                                

2   court for placement with a specific adoptive parent.                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

5   having jurisdiction over adoption in another state or country.              

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  physical custody of the child to the prospective adoptive                   

                                                                                

12  parent.                                                                     

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

16  corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal               

                                                                                

17  entity.                                                                     

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

20  petition with the court.                                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

23  the child to a prospective adoptive parent  pursuant  according             

                                                                                

24  to this chapter.                                                            

                                                                                

25      (t) "Prospective adoptive parent" means an individual who has               

                                                                                

26  filed a petition for adoption that has not yet been adjudicated.            

                                                                                

27      (u) "Relative" means an individual who is related to the                    


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2       (v)  (s)  "Release" means a document in which all parental                  

                                                                                

3   rights over a specific child are voluntarily relinquished to the            

                                                                                

4   department or to a child placing agency.                                    

                                                                                

5       (w)  (t)  "Rescission petition" means a petition filed by an                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

7   terminated to rescind the adoption in which a stepparent acquired           

                                                                                

8   parental rights and to restore parental rights of that parent               

                                                                                

9   pursuant  according to section 66 of this chapter.                         

                                                                                

10      (x)  (u)  "Suitable to be a parent of an adoptee" means a                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15  child.                                                                      

                                                                                

16      (y)  (v)  "Temporary placement" means a placement that occurs               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

19      (z)  (w)  "Within the fifth degree by marriage, blood, or                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

21  step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, brother,                        

                                                                                

22  step-brother, sister, step-sister, uncle, step-uncle, aunt,                 

                                                                                

23  step-aunt, first cousin, step-first cousin, great aunt,                     

                                                                                

24  step-great aunt, great uncle, step-great uncle, great                       

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

27  step-great great grandparent, great great uncle, step-great great           


                                                                                

1   uncle, great great aunt, step-great great aunt, great great great           

                                                                                

2   grandparent, or step-great great great grandparent.                         

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

5   child for adoption by making a temporary placement under                    

                                                                                

6   section 23d of this chapter or a formal placement under                     

                                                                                

7   section 51 of this chapter.  A temporary placement becomes a                

                                                                                

8   formal placement when the court orders the termination of the               

                                                                                

9   rights of the parent or parents or the guardian and approves                

                                                                                

10  placement  pursuant to  under section 51 of this chapter.  A                

                                                                                

11  formal placement under section 51 of this chapter  does  is not             

                                                                                

12  have  required to be preceded by a temporary placement.                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

14  prospective adoptive parent in a direct placement.  The selection           

                                                                                

15  shall not be delegated.                                                     

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

17  adoption attorney, or a child placing agency shall provide                  

                                                                                

18  information about a prospective adoptive parent to the parent or            

                                                                                

19  guardian before placement.  This information shall include the              

                                                                                

20  specific information contained in a preplacement assessment as              

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

22  additional information requested by the parent or guardian.  The            

                                                                                

23  information does not have to include identifying information                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

25  guardian and the prospective adoptive parent shall determine                

                                                                                

26  whether to exchange identifying information and whether to meet             

                                                                                

27  each other.                                                                 


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

5   marriage, blood, or adoption  a relative.                                   

                                                                                

6       (5) If a child is 11 years of age or older, the court may                   

                                                                                

7   allow the child to attend his or her adoption hearing held under            

                                                                                

8   this act.                                                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

12  agency placement, a child placing agency with written                       

                                                                                

13  authorization from the parent or guardian  pursuant  according to           

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

16  meet all of the following requirements:                                     

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

18  temporarily placed is a Michigan resident.                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

20  by an adoption attorney or a child placing agency.                          

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

23  agency signs a statement evidencing the transfer of physical                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

1   contain all of the following:                                               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

4   of adoption by the prospective adoptive parent who is a Michigan            

                                                                                

5   resident.                                                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

7   and the prospective adoptive parent agree otherwise, the                    

                                                                                

8   prospective adoptive parent has the authority to consent to all             

                                                                                

9   medical, surgical, psychological, educational, and related                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  guardian otherwise retains full parental rights to the child                

                                                                                

12  being temporarily placed and that the temporary placement may be            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15  has read a preplacement assessment of the prospective adoptive              

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

17  transfer with a finding that the prospective adoptive parent is             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

19  makes the transfer of physical custody, the statement shall                 

                                                                                

20  include a verification that the child placing agency has given              

                                                                                

21  the parent or guardian who authorized the temporary placement an            

                                                                                

22  opportunity to review the preplacement assessment.                          

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

1   the prospective adoptive parent signs a statement setting forth             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

3   address of the prospective adoptive parent and attesting to both            

                                                                                

4   of the following:                                                           

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

6   temporary placement will not become a formal placement until the            

                                                                                

7   parents consent or release their parental rights and the court              

                                                                                

8   orders the termination of parental rights and approves the                  

                                                                                

9   placement and that the prospective adoptive parent must                     

                                                                                

10  relinquish custody of the child within 24 hours after being                 

                                                                                

11  served with an order  pursuant to  under section 23e(2) of this             

                                                                                

12  chapter.                                                                    

                                                                                

13      (ii) That the prospective adoptive parent agrees to reside                   

                                                                                

14  with the child in Michigan until a change of residence is                   

                                                                                

15  approved by the court after formal placement occurs.                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

17  after a transfer of physical custody of a child  pursuant                   

                                                                                

18  according to subsection (1), the adoption attorney or child                 

                                                                                

19  placing agency who assists with the temporary placement or the              

                                                                                

20  child placing agency that makes the temporary placement shall               

                                                                                

21  submit to the court in the county in which the prospective                  

                                                                                

22  adoptive parent resides a report that contains all of the                   

                                                                                

23  following:                                                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

26  child placing agency who made the temporary placement.                      

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

1   with whom the temporary placement was made.                                 

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

5   putative father, if known.                                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   of this chapter.                                                            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  child placing agency who assists with the temporary placement or            

                                                                                

12  the child placing agency that makes the temporary placement shall           

                                                                                

13  submit to the court that received the report described in                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15  following dispositions has occurred:                                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

18  or other person having legal custody.                                       

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

22  determine whether an adoption petition has been filed or the                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

25  court's investigation reveals that neither disposition has                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2   child  pursuant  according to section 23e of this chapter.  If a            

                                                                                

3   petition has been filed under subsection (5), (6), or (7), the              

                                                                                

4   prosecutor is not required to file a petition.                              

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   requesting that the temporary placement be revoked and that the             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  who assisted in making the temporary placement shall assist the             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

14  placing agency  pursuant  according to section 23b(3) of this               

                                                                                

15  chapter, the child placing agency shall file the petition on                

                                                                                

16  behalf of a parent or guardian who wishes to regain custody of              

                                                                                

17  the child.                                                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

19  been temporarily placed is either unwilling or unable to proceed            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

21  petition in the court that received the report described in                 

                                                                                

22  subsection (2) for disposition of the child  pursuant  according            

                                                                                

23  to section 23e of this chapter.                                             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

25  is unable to proceed with an adoption because of the                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2   with whom the child has been temporarily placed and the                     

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

6   in subsection (2) for disposition of the child  pursuant                    

                                                                                

7   according to section 23e of this chapter.                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

9   prospective adoptive parent with whom a child is temporarily                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

13  child to an individual or agency not otherwise legally entitled             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15  requirements of subsection (1) are met.                                     

                                                                                

16      (10) A petition filed under this section, section 24, or                    

                                                                                

17  section 45 shall be filed with the court of the county where the            

                                                                                

18  parent's parental rights were terminated.  If both parents'                 

                                                                                

19  parental rights were terminated at different times and in                   

                                                                                

20  different courts, a petition filed under this section, section              

                                                                                

21  24, or section 45 shall be filed in the court of the county where           

                                                                                

22  parental rights were first terminated.  That court may transfer             

                                                                                

23  jurisdiction to another court in another county at the court's              

                                                                                

24  discretion.                                                                 

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

27  to adopt a child or an adult without a change of name, with the             


                                                                                

1   intent to make the adoptee his or her heir, that person, together           

                                                                                

2   with his wife or her husband, if married, shall file a petition             

                                                                                

3   with the court of the county in which the petitioner resides or             

                                                                                

4   where the adoptee is found.  If there has been a temporary                  

                                                                                

5   placement of the child, the petition for adoption shall be filed            

                                                                                

6   with the court that received the report described in section                

                                                                                

7   23d(2) of this chapter.  If the court obtained jurisdiction over            

                                                                                

8   the child because the child's parents' parental rights were                 

                                                                                

9   terminated due to child abuse or neglect, the petition for                  

                                                                                

10  adoption shall be filed with the court in the county where the              

                                                                                

11  child abuse or neglect case was decided.                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

13  petitioner and shall contain the following information:                     

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

16  mother.                                                                     

                                                                                

17      (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5), the name,               

                                                                                

18  date and place of birth, and place of residence if known of the             

                                                                                

19  adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

21  petitioner.                                                                 

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

23  adoption.                                                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

25  adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

27  a court of competent jurisdiction or except as otherwise provided           


                                                                                

1   in subsection (5), the names of the parents of the adoptee and              

                                                                                

2   the place of residence of each living parent if known.                      

                                                                                

3       (g) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5), the name                

                                                                                

4   and place of residence of the guardian of the person or estate of           

                                                                                

5   the adoptee, if any has been appointed.                                     

                                                                                

6       (3) In a direct placement, the petitioner shall attach to the               

                                                                                

7   petition a verified statement certifying that the petitioner has            

                                                                                

8   been informed of the availability of counseling services and                

                                                                                

9   whether the petitioner has received counseling.                             

                                                                                

10      (4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, in a                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

12  preplacement assessment of the petitioner completed or updated              

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

17  no preplacement assessments of the petitioner have been completed           

                                                                                

18  other than those attached to the petition and explaining any                

                                                                                

19  preplacement assessments of the petitioner that have been                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

22  chapter, the petitioner may comply with this subsection by                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

25  preplacement assessments and the verified statement required by             

                                                                                

26  this section.                                                               

                                                                                

27      (5) In a direct placement in which the parties have elected                 


                                                                                

1   not to exchange identifying information, the information required           

                                                                                

2   by subsection (2)(f) and (g) and the surname and place of                   

                                                                                

3   residence of the adoptee required under subsection (2)(b) may be            

                                                                                

4   omitted.  The attorney or child placing agency assisting in the             

                                                                                

5   adoption shall file a verified statement containing the omitted             

                                                                                

6   information.                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   are all of the following:                                                   

                                                                                

9       (a) The petitioner.                                                         

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

14  of competent jurisdiction.                                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

16  consent to adoption, has been appointed.                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

18  consent to adoption, has been appointed.                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

21  petition.                                                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

26  unemancipated minor parent of the adoptee.                                  

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

3   has authority to consent to adoption.                                       

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

5   party.                                                                      

                                                                                

6       (j) The adoptive parents, current foster parents, or any                    

                                                                                

7   other individual who has filed a petition of adoption for the               

                                                                                

8   same child.                                                                 

                                                                                

9       (k) The Michigan children's institute superintendent or an                  

                                                                                

10  authorized agency representative.                                           

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

13  his rights are all of the following:                                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15      (b) A putative father of the adoptee.                                       

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

20  adoptee is proposed to be released.                                         

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

22      (d) Guardian or guardian ad litem of an interested person.                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

24  the following:                                                              

                                                                                

25      (a) The petitioners.                                                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2   placement are all of the following:                                         

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

4   temporary placement.                                                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

6   of the adoptee.                                                             

                                                                                

7       (c) A child placing agency that was authorized under                        

                                                                                

8   section 23b of this chapter to make the temporary placement.                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  adoptee.                                                                    

                                                                                

12      (e) The prospective adoptive parent with whom temporary                     

                                                                                

13  placement was made.                                                         

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15  this chapter.                                                               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

17  guardian ad litem has been appointed.                                       

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

19  additional parties to be served.                                            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

22  status as an interested party under this section.                           

                                                                                

23      Sec. 60.  (1) After the entry of the order of adoption, the                 

                                                                                

24  adoptee shall, in case of a change of name, be known and called             

                                                                                

25  by the new name.  The person or persons adopting the adoptee then           

                                                                                

26  stand in the place of a parent or parents to the adoptee in law             

                                                                                

27  in all respects as though the adopted person had been born to the           


                                                                                

1   adopting parents and are liable for all the duties and entitled             

                                                                                

2   to all the rights of parents.  After the entry of the order of              

                                                                                

3   adoption, the adoptive parent has equal standing as a natural               

                                                                                

4   parent.                                                                     

                                                                                

5       (2) After entry of the order of adoption, there is no                       

                                                                                

6   distinction between the rights and duties of natural progeny and            

                                                                                

7   adopted persons, and the adopted person becomes an heir at law of           

                                                                                

8   the adopting parent or parents, and an heir at law of the lineal            

                                                                                

9   and collateral kindred of the adopting parent or parents.  After            

                                                                                

10  the entry of the order of adoption, the adoptee has equal                   

                                                                                

11  standing as natural progeny. After entry of the order of                    

                                                                                

12  adoption, an adopted child is no longer an heir at law of a                 

                                                                                

13  parent whose rights have been terminated under this chapter or              

                                                                                

14  chapter XIIA or the lineal or collateral kindred of that parent,            

                                                                                

15  nor is an adopted adult an heir at law of a person who was his or           

                                                                                

16  her parent at the time the order of adoption was entered or the             

                                                                                

17  lineal or collateral kindred of that person, except that a right,           

                                                                                

18  title, or interest vesting before entry of the final order of               

                                                                                

19  adoption is not divested by that order.                                     

                                                                                

20      (3) This section does not prohibit the entry of an order for                

                                                                                

21  grandparenting time under section 7b of the child custody act of            

                                                                                

22  1970,  Act No. 91 of the Public Acts of 1970, being section                 

                                                                                

23  722.27b of the Michigan Compiled Laws  1970 PA 91, MCL 722.27b.             

                                                                                

24  During the pendency of a stepparent adoption proceeding, a parent           

                                                                                

25  of a natural parent may seek an order for grandparenting time of            

                                                                                

26  the adoptee in the same manner as set forth in section 7b of  Act           

                                                                                

27  No. 91 of the Public Acts of 1970  the child custody act of 1970,           


                                                                                

1   1970 PA 91, MCL 722.27b, and the judge shall proceed in the same            

                                                                                

2   manner as is provided in section 7b of  Act No. 91 of the Public            

                                                                                

3   Acts of 1970  the child custody act of 1970, 1970 PA 91, MCL                

                                                                                

4   722.27b.