§ 710.21 Short title of act; Michigan adoption code
§ 710.21a General purposes of chapter
§ 710.21b Court order or decree issued in another country; rights and obligations of parties
§ 710.22 Definitions
§ 710.22a Adoption placement or issuance of order prohibited; convictions
§ 710.23 Hearing appeal brought under MCL 400.115k; powers of court
§ 710.23a Direct placement by parent or guardian of child for adoption; temporary placement; formal placement; selection by parent or guardian not delegated; information to be provided by prospective adopt
§ 710.23b Placement of child by child placing agency or department of social services; written authorization from parent or guardian for temporary placement; assistance; involvement of parent or guardian i
§ 710.23c Placement of child by court
§ 710.23d Temporary placement; procedures
§ 710.23e Temporary placement; hearing to determine custody; petition; ex parte order to return child to parent or guardian; petition requesting court jurisdiction; temporary disposition; powers of court;
§ 710.23f Preplacement assessment
§ 710.23g Requirement to provide services that conflict with child placing agency’s religious beliefs prohibited; adverse action against child placing agency prohibited
§ 710.24 Petition for adoption; filing; jurisdiction; verification; contents; preplacement assessment; omission of certain identifying information
§ 710.24a Interested parties; appointment of guardian to defeat parent’s status as interested party
§ 710.25 Proceedings; priority; disposition; adjournment or continuance
§ 710.26 Documentation required; informing adoptee and adoptive parents of MCL 710.27a, 710.27b, 710.68, 710.68a, and 710.68b; applicability of subsection (2); providing adoptee and adoptive parents with
§ 710.27 Nonidentifying information to be provided prospective adoptive parent; time of submission; supplemental information; compilation; maintenance; transmission; destruction of information as misdemea
§ 710.27a Statement consenting to or denying release of identifying information; statement providing notice that former parent deceased; statement releasing adult former sibling’s name and address; presump
§ 710.27b Central adoption registry; establishment; maintenance; statements to be kept on file; forms; transmission of clearance reply; attachments; transmission of statement releasing former adult sibling
§ 710.28 Release; persons authorized to execute; release to child placing agency or department; advising parent or guardian of child placing agencies; advising agencies of child’s availability for adoptio
§ 710.29 Release; separate instrument; persons before whom release executed and acknowledged; execution in another state or country; out-of-court release; verified statement; investigation; explaining leg
§ 710.31 Child born out of wedlock; inability to obtain release or consent of natural father; release by mother; petition of dependency or neglect; order authorizing temporary care; delaying formal execut
§ 710.33 Notice of intent to claim paternity
§ 710.34 Ex parte petition evidencing intent to release or consent; notice of intent to release or consent; form
§ 710.36 Hearing to determine whether child born out of wedlock and to determine identity and rights of father; filing proof of service of notice of intent or acknowledgment; copy of notice of intent to c
§ 710.37 Termination of rights of putative father
§ 710.39 Inquiry into fitness of putative father; determining best interests of child; termination of rights of putative father; determination that rights of putative father not be terminated; use of moth
§ 710.41 Conditions to placing child in home for purpose of adoption; adoption by foster parent or by petitioner married to parent having legal custody
§ 710.43 Consent to adoption; persons authorized to execute
§ 710.44 Consent to adoption; separate instrument; persons before whom consent executed and acknowledged; execution in another state or country; verified statement; investigation; explaining legal rights
§ 710.45 Withholding of consent by representative or court; motion by petitioner; decision by court; termination of rights; entering orders; appeal
§ 710.46 Investigation; considerations; report; waiver
§ 710.51 Order terminating rights of parents or person in loco parentis; placement of child with petitioner; extension of time; conditions; child as ward of court; termination of jurisdiction; marriage of
§ 710.52 Supervision of child; reports
§ 710.54 Prohibitions as to money or other consideration or thing of value; statement; compensation for certain activities prohibited; payment of charges; documents filed with court; assuring compliance;
§ 710.55 Persons authorized to place child for adoption or advertise for, solicit, or recruit biological or adoptive parents or guardians; violation as misdemeanor; penalty; “advertise for, solicit, or re
§ 710.55a Representation by attorney
§ 710.56 Order of adoption; time; waiver; extension of time; hearing; effect of filing petition for rehearing or appeal from order terminating parental rights; conditions; adoption of adult
§ 710.58 Order of adoption; certified copies
§ 710.58a Information to be forwarded by court; “primary adoption facilitator” and “public information form” defined
§ 710.59 Changing name of adopted child; effect on order of adoption and exemplification of record
§ 710.60 Adoptee to be known and called by new name; status and liability of persons adopting adoptee; rights and duties of adopted person; adopted person as heir at law; order for grandparenting time
§ 710.62 Effect of denying order of adoption
§ 710.63 Denial of petition or motion or failure to issue order; statement by court
§ 710.64 Rehearing; modifying or setting aside order; entering order with respect to original hearing or rehearing of contested matters
§ 710.65 Appeal to court of appeals; staying court order pending appeal; priority
§ 710.66 Adult adoptee; rescinding adoption by stepparent and restoring parental rights of parent; rescission petition; filing new certificate of birth; hearing; certified copies; effect of entry of order
§ 710.67 Disposition of adoption records; copying or inspecting records; petition; notice and hearing; granting or denying petition; disclosing names of biological or adoptive parents; certified copy of n
§ 710.68 Nonidentifying and identifying information; request; availability; release; request for adoption record information; identity of court or child placing agency; counseling; list of adoption suppor
§ 710.68a Providing information pamphlet, list of adoption support groups, and information about MCL 710.27a, 710.27b, 710.68 and 710.68b; placement of requester’s current address in adoption files
§ 710.68b Definitions; petition to appoint confidential intermediary to search for and contact former family member; approval; training; oath of confidentiality; duties of confidential intermediary; accept
§ 710.69 Violation of MCL 710.41 as felony
§ 710.70 Prior adoption proceedings or orders of adoption
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Terms Used In Michigan Laws > Chapters 701-713 > Act 288 of 1939 > Chapter X - Michigan Adoption Code

  • Act of congress: means the act of congress approved June 18, 1934, entitled "An act to provide for the establishment, operation and maintenance of foreign trade zones in ports of entry of the United States, to expedite and encourage foreign commerce, and for other purposes". See Michigan Laws 447.1
  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • Adoptee: means the individual who is to be adopted, regardless of whether the individual is a child or an adult. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Adoption attorney: means an attorney acting as counsel in an adoption proceeding or case. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Adult former sibling: means an individual who is 18 years of age or older and is related to an adult adoptee either biologically or through adoption by at least 1 common parent, regardless of whether the adult former sibling ever lived in the same household as the adult adoptee. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Agency placement: means a placement in which a child placing agency, the department, or a court selects the adoptive parent for the child and transfers physical custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parent. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Applicant: means an individual or individuals who desire to adopt a child and who have submitted an adoption application to a child placing agency. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Attending practitioner: means a licensed physician or a registered professional nurse certified as a nurse midwife by the Michigan board of nursing. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Auction sale: as used in this act shall mean the offering for sale or selling of personal property to the highest bidder, or offering for sale or selling of personal property at a high price and then offering the same at successive lower prices until a buyer is secured. See Michigan Laws 446.57
  • best interests of the child: means the sum total of the following factors to be considered, evaluated, and determined by the court to be applied to give the adoptee permanence at the earliest possible date:
    (i) The love, affection, and other emotional ties existing between the adopting individual or individuals and the adoptee or, in the case of a hearing under section 39 of this chapter, the putative father and the adoptee. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Born out of wedlock: means a child conceived and born to a woman who was not married from the conception to the date of birth of the child, or a child whom the court has determined to be a child born during a marriage but not the issue of that marriage. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Central adoption registry: means the registry established by the department under section 27b of this chapter to control the release of identifying adoption information. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Chief executive officer: means any of the following:
    •     (i) For a city, the mayor. See Michigan Laws 446.203
  • Child: means an individual less than 18 years of age. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Child placing agency: means a private organization licensed under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Consent: means a document in which all parental rights over a specific child are voluntarily relinquished to the court for placement with a specific adoptive parent. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Court: means the family division of circuit court of this state, or if the context requires, the court having jurisdiction over adoption in another state or country. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Customer: means an individual who is lawfully on the premises of a retail establishment. See Michigan Laws 446.71
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Department: means the department of health and human services. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Direct placement: means a placement in which a parent or guardian selects an adoptive parent for a child, other than a stepparent or an individual related to the child within the fifth degree by marriage, blood, or adoption, and transfers physical custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parent. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Doctor: means a licensed doctor of medicine or a licensed doctor of osteopathic medicine and surgery. See Michigan Laws 446.71
  • Eligible medical condition: means Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, any other inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, pregnancy, or any other medical condition that requires immediate access to a toilet facility. See Michigan Laws 446.71
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Facilitator: means a person that individually or in conjunction or cooperation with another person processes, receives, or accepts for delivery an application for a refund anticipation loan or a check in payment of refund anticipation loan proceeds or in any other manner materially facilitates the making of a refund anticipation loan. See Michigan Laws 446.113
  • Financial institution: means a state or nationally chartered bank or a state or federally chartered savings and loan association, savings bank, or credit union. See Michigan Laws 446.113
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Formal placement: means a placement that is approved by the court under section 51 of this chapter. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Freedom of Information Act: A federal law that mandates that all the records created and kept by federal agencies in the executive branch of government must be open for public inspection and copying. The only exceptions are those records that fall into one of nine exempted categories listed in the statute. Source: OCC
  • Governmental unit: means a city, township, charter township, county, or incorporated village. See Michigan Laws 446.203
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • in writing: shall be construed to include printing, engraving, and lithographing; except that if the written signature of a person is required by law, the signature shall be the proper handwriting of the person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's proper mark, which may be, unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law, a clear and classifiable fingerprint of the person made with ink or another substance. See Michigan Laws 8.3q
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Internet drop-off store: means a person, corporation, or firm that contracts with other persons, corporations, or firms to offer its personal property or other valuable thing for sale, purchase, consignment, or trade through means of an internet website and meets the conditions described in section 1(3). See Michigan Laws 446.203
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lender: means a person that makes a refund anticipation loan. See Michigan Laws 446.113
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Local police agency: means the police agency of the city, village, or township, or if none, the county sheriff of the county in which the internet drop-off store conducts business. See Michigan Laws 446.203
  • month: means a calendar month; the word "year" a calendar year; and the word "year" alone shall be equivalent to the words "year of our Lord". See Michigan Laws 8.3j
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • New merchandise: as used in this act shall mean all merchandise not previously sold at retail. See Michigan Laws 446.57
  • oath: shall be construed to include the word "affirmation" in all cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath; and in like cases the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed". See Michigan Laws 8.3k
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Pawnbroker: means a person, corporation, or member, or members of a copartnership or firm, who loans money on deposit, or pledge of personal property, or other valuable thing, other than securities or printed evidence of indebtedness, or who deals in the purchasing of personal property or other valuable thing on condition of selling the same back again at a stipulated price. See Michigan Laws 446.203
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 446.163
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, as well as to individuals. See Michigan Laws 8.3l
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 446.113
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Preliminary hearing: A hearing where the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to make the defendant have a trial.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Refund anticipation loan: means an extension of credit to a taxpayer that a person arranges to be repaid directly from the proceeds of the taxpayer's federal or state personal income tax refund. See Michigan Laws 446.113
  • Relative: means that term as defined in section 13a of chapter XIIA. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Release: means a document in which all parental rights over a specific child are voluntarily relinquished to the department or to a child placing agency. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.
  • Rescission petition: means a petition filed by an adult adoptee and his or her parent whose rights have been terminated to rescind the adoption in which a stepparent acquired parental rights and to restore parental rights of that parent according to section 66 of this chapter. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Retail establishment: means a place of business open to the general public for the sale of goods or services. See Michigan Laws 446.71
  • seal: shall be construed to include any of the following:
    •     (a) The impression of the seal on the paper alone. See Michigan Laws 8.3n
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Suitable to be a parent of an adoptee: means a conclusion that there is no specific concern with respect to an individual that would suggest that placement of any child, or a particular child, in the home of the individual would pose a risk of harm to the physical or psychological well-being of the child. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Target: means a person that purchases, rents, leases, or otherwise obtains a product or service in the commercial market that is not for resale in the commercial market and that is, or later becomes, the subject of the patent infringement allegation. See Michigan Laws 446.163
  • Taxpayer: means an individual who files a federal or Michigan personal income tax return. See Michigan Laws 446.113
  • Temporary placement: means a placement that occurs before court approval under section 51 of this chapter and that meets the requirements of section 23d of this chapter. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • to place: means selection of an adoptive parent for a child and transfer of physical custody of the child to a prospective adoptive parent in compliance with this chapter. See Michigan Laws 710.22
  • Truth in Lending Act: The Truth in Lending Act is a federal law that requires lenders to provide standardized information so that borrowers can compare loan terms. In general, lenders must provide information on Source: OCC
  • Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. Source: OCC
  • United States: shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o