9th Judicial Circuit Court
Adoptions
The following information is made available to give the reader general information and a general understanding of Adoption proceedings and court requirements. The information presented on this website is not legal advice and any legal questions should be presented to an attorney of your choosing. Please remember Court Staff is unable to provide legal advice.
Adoption Petitions are processed by the Adoption Case Manager, who is part of the Kalamazoo County 9th Judicial Circuit Court – Family Division. Adoption files are non-public and processed with the highest level of confidentiality.
For more information, please contact the Adoption Case Manager at 269-385-6041 or by emailing cjtann@kalcounty.com.
General Guidelines/Information:
- The petitioner(s) and/or the adoptee must be a resident of Kalamazoo County. Note: this does not apply to State Ward/MCI Adoptions.
- Filing Fees must be paid in full at the time the Petition is submitted. They can be paid by check or money order, payable to 9th Circuit Court.
- Photocopy of documents is not permitted. You must submit the original documents or a scanned copy.
- All adoption filings can be mailed or hand-delivered to:
Adoptions
9th Circuit Court - Family Division
1536 Gull Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Fees:
- Petition for Adoption Filing Fee - $190.00
- Home Investigation Fee - $200.00
- Subsequent Motion and Petitions - $20.00
- Birth Certificate Fee - $50.00
- Check or money order made payable to State of Michigan.
- This ONLY applies for children born in Michigan.
- If the child being adopted was born in another state, you will need to speak to Vital Records in the State where the adoptee was born.
- Petition for Adoption Information and Order – Order of Adoption – Closed File -$35.00
- Petition for Adoption Information and Order – Identifying or Non-Identifying Information - $60.00
- Petition for Appointment of Confidential Intermediary - $20.00
Types of Adoptions:
PLEASE NOTE: Additional information/documentation may be requested in addition to the documents listed below.
In this type of adoption, the custodial parent’s spouse adopts his or her minor child. The stepparent must be married to the legal/biological parent of the adoptee for a minimum of 12 months.
SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION & AFFIDAVIT TO TERMINATE RIGHTS:
DOCUMENTS NEEDED AT CASE OPENING:
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Payment of Home Investigation Fee - $200.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Stepparent Adoption - PCA301b
- Supplemental Petition and Affidavit to Terminate Parental Rights – PCA302
- Copy of Custody and Child Support Order must be attached
- Must be certified copy if court case took place outside of Kalamazoo County
- Copy of recent Child Support print out
- Must be certified copy if court case took place outside of Kalamazoo County
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Adoptee’s Birth Certificate
- Copy of Marriage License for Biological Parent and Stepparent
- Must be certified if marriage took place outside of Michigan
- Central Registry Clearance Request – DHS-1929
- Form must be completed by petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Copy of Driver License or ID for petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Front and back side
- Verified Accounting(s):
NONCUSTODIAL PARENT CONSENTS TO ADOPTION:
DOCUMENTS NEEDED AT CASE OPENING:
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Payment of Home Investigation Fee - $200.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Stepparent Adoption - PCA301b
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Adoptee’s Birth Certificate
- Copy of Marriage License for Biological Parent and Stepparent
- Must be certified copy if marriage took place outside of Michigan
- Central Registry Clearance Request – DHS-1929
- Form must be completed by petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Copy of Driver License or ID for petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Front and back side
- Copy of Order/Judgment of Divorce OR Custody Order
- Must be certified if Order was not completed in Kalamazoo County
- Verified Accounting(s):
PETITION TO ID FATHER & TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS:
DOCUMENTS NEEDED AT CASE OPENING:
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Payment of Home Investigation Fee - $200.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Stepparent Adoption - PCA301b
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Adoptee’s Birth Certificate
- Petition for Hearing to Identify Father and Determine or Terminate His Rights – PCA310
- Copy of Marriage License for Biological Parent and Stepparent
- Must be certified if marriage took place outside of Michigan
- Central Registry Clearance Request – DHS-1929
- Form must be completed by petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Copy of Driver License or ID for petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Front and back side
- Verified Accounting(s):
ALTERNATIVE FILING:
DOCUMENTS NEEDED AT CASE OPENING:
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Payment of Home Investigation Fee - $200.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Stepparent Adoption - PCA301b
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Adoptee’s Birth Certificate
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Death Certificate (if applicable)
- Copy of Order Terminating Parental Rights (if applicable)
- Must be certified copy if court case took place outside of Kalamazoo County
- Copy of Marriage License for Biological Parent and Stepparent
- Must be certified if marriage took place outside of Michigan
- Central Registry Clearance Request – DHS-1929
- Form must be completed by petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Copy of Driver License or ID for petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Front and back side
- Verified Accounting(s):
In this type of adoption, a family member who is related to the child within the fifth degree by marriage, blood or adoption petitions to adopt the minor child.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR ADOPTION FILE AT CASE OPENING:
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00 total
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Payment of Home Investigation Fee - $200.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Adoption - PCA301
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Birth Certificate for the Adoptee
- Certified Copy Death Certificate of Biological Parent (if applicable)
- Must be certified if Death Certificate is out of state
- Copy of Order Terminating Parental Rights (if applicable)
- Must be certified copy if court case took place outside of Kalamazoo County
- Copy of Petitioner’s Marriage License (if applicable)
- Must be certified if Marriage License is out of state
- Central Registry Clearance Requests – DHS1929
- Form must be completed by petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Copy of Driver License or ID for petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Front and back side
- Verified Accounting(s):
- Petition to ID Father & Identify or Terminate His Rights (if applicable) – PCA310
- Must be completed by biological mother
In this type of adoption, a Relative or Nonrelative who has valid Letters of (full) Guardianship over the adoptee. Guardianship case must be a Kalamazoo County case.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR ADOPTION FILE AT CASE OPENING:
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00 total
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Payment of Home Investigation Fee - $200.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Adoption - PCA301
- Copy of Letter of Authority/Guardianship – PC633
- Copy of Order Regarding Guardian Authority to Release for or Consent to Adoption – PC693
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Birth Certificate for the Adoptee
- Certified Copy Death Certificate of Biological Parent (if applicable)
- Must be certified if Death Certificate is out of state
- Copy of Order Terminating Parental Rights (if applicable)
- Must be certified copy if court case took place outside of Kalamazoo County
- Copy of Petitioner’s Marriage License (if applicable)
- Must be certified if Marriage License is out of state
- Central Registry Clearance Requests – DHS1929
- Form must be completed by petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Copy of Driver License or ID for petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Front and back side
- Verified Accounting(s):
- Petition to ID Father & Identify or Terminate His Rights (if applicable) – PCA310
- Must be completed by biological mother
In this type of adoption, the petitioners (adoptive parents) are requesting that they be permitted to adopt an individual over the age of 18. The adult adoptee must consent to the adoption at a scheduled court hearing. Notice of the consent hearing must be provided to the biological parent(s) of the adoptee however they are not required to attend the consent hearing.
Documents required at case opening:
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Adoption - PCA301
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Birth Certificate for adoptee
- Certified or Official Use Copy Death Certificate of Biological Parent (if applicable)
- Copy of Order Terminating Parental Rights (if applicable)
- Must be certified copy if court case took place outside of Kalamazoo County
- Copy of Petitioner’s Marriage License (if applicable)
- Must be Certified or Official Use Copy if out of State/Country
- Central Registry Clearance Requests – DHS1929
- Form must be completed by petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Copy of Driver License or ID for petitioner(s) and any individuals over the age of 18 living in the home
- Front and back side
- Verified Accounting(s):
In this type of adoption, the Family Court has terminated the parents’ parental rights and the child has been committed to the State for the purpose of being adopted. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is responsible for the child. The agency works with contracted child-placing agencies to place the child and supervise the placement. The child may be placed with relatives or with a foster family.
Contact your local MDHHS or any child placing agency if you are interested in adoption or foster care.
Documents required at case opening:
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Adoption – PCA301
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Adoptee’s Birth Certificate
- NA - Termination of Parental Rights OR
- Order Following Hearing to Terminate Parental Rights - JC63
- Document must be certified if the case took place in another county besides Kalamazoo
- Order Following Hearing to Terminate Parental Rights - JC63
- AU – Termination of Parental Rights after Release or Consent
- Certified Release documents
- Statement by Parent that Accompanied Release - PCA338
- Release of Child by Parent - PCA305
- Parent’s or Guardian’s Verified Accounting for Adoption Release or Direct Placement - PCA348
- Order Terminating Parental Rights after Release or Consent - PCA318
- Certified or Attested Copy of the Commitment to Agency - PCA322
- Documents must be certified if the case took place in another county besides Kalamazoo
- Death Certificate of Biological Parent (if applicable)
- Must be certified if the Death Certificate was not created in Michigan
- Original Consent to Adoption by Agency - PCA309
- Home Study of Petitioners with any Updates
- Most recent update must have original signatures
- Must be current within one year
- Medical Reports of Petitioners and anyone living in the home
- Must be current within one year
- Must be actual document or scanned copy.
- Must be all pages.
- Medical Reports of Adoptee
- Must be current within one year
- Must be actual document or scanned copy.
- Must be all pages.
- Child Adoption Assessment – DHS-1927
- Most recent update must have original signatures
- Verified Accountings:
- Petitioner’s Verified Accounting - PCA347
- Statement of Services Performed by Agency - PCA345 (7 Day)
- Supplement to Petitioner’s Verified Accounting - PCA347a
- Statement of Services Performed by Agency - PCA345 (21 Day)
- Letter indicating there are no competing parties
- Affidavit Re: Appeals and Rehearings - Kalamazoo County Form
- Original Notice to Adopting Parents on Pending or Potential Appeal/Rehearing - PCA325 (if applicable)
- If immediate confirmation/finalization is requested, please include:
- Adoption Report Required to Establish a New Michigan Birth Record – DCH-0854
- If child was not born in Michigan, please contact the State they were born in for correct form
- New Birth Record Fee - $50.00
- Made payable to State of Michigan
- If child was not born in Michigan, please contact the State they were born in for correct fee
- Adoption Report Required to Establish a New Michigan Birth Record – DCH-0854
In this type of adoption, the parent of the minor child personally selects the adoptive parent(s), transfers physical custody of the child to the adoptive parents and consents to the adoption. For this type of adoption, the petitioners work with an attorney or child-placing agency. The parent must be represented by an attorney or child-placing agency.
For more information regarding this type of adoption, please contact an adoption agency or an attorney.
Documents required at case opening – must be filed within 24 hours of temporary placement of the child:
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Statement of Parent/Guardian Authorizing Temporary Placement of Child for Adoption – PCA329
- Statement of Parent/Guardian Transferring Physical Custody of Child for Adoption – PCA330
- Statement of Child-Placing Agency Transferring Physical Custody of Child for Adoption – PCA331
- Statement of Prospective Adoptive Parent Transferring Physical Custody of Child for Adoption – PCA332
- Verification of Birth
- Statement of Identifying Information – PCA340 (only required if the parties are not exchanging identifying information)
In this type of adoption, the parent of the minor child personally selects the adoptive parent(s), transfers physical custody of the child to the adoptive parents and consents to the adoption. For this type of adoption, the petitioners work with an attorney or child-placing agency. The parent must be represented by an attorney or child-placing agency.
For more information regarding this type of adoption, please contact an adoption agency or an attorney.
Documents required at case opening – must be filed within 30 days of Temporary Placement (if applicable):
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00 (if not previously paid through Temporary Placement filing)
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Adoption – PCA301a
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Adoptee’s Birth Certificate
- Petition for Hearing to Identify Father – PCA310 AND Custody Statement – PCA316 OR
- Petition for Hearing to Identify Father – PCA310 AND Declaration of Inability to Identify/Locate Father – PCA315 OR Verified Declaration about Paternity – PCA356
- Payment of Petition for Hearing to Identify Father (if applicable) - $20.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Follow Up Report After Temporary Placement of Child for Adoption – PCA333
- Home Study of Petitioners with any Updates
- Most recent update must have original signatures
- Must contain Adopting Parent’s Marriage License
- Must contain Adopting Parent’s Drivers’ Licenses
- Medical Reports of Petitioners and Anyone Living in the Home
- Must be current within one year
- Must be all pages.
- Medical Reports of Adoptee
- Must be current within one year
- Must be all pages.
- Child’s Adoption Assessment - DHS1927
- Most recent update must have original signatures
- Verified Accounting – 7 Day
- Petitioner(s) - PCA347
- Agency - PCA345
- Parent or Guardian’s Verified Accounting – PCA348
All adoption files are non-public - MCL 710.67. An adult adoptee, adoptive parents, and/or former family members can petition the Court for adoption information. The Adoption code details what information can be released from the file and who it can be released to – MCL 710.68.
There may be situations where a Confidential Intermediary can be appointed by the Court that finalized the adoption. If appointed, the Confidential Intermediary can search and contact certain individuals. The Confidential Intermediary will charge a separate fee for his/her services that the petitioner will be responsible for.
To learn more about requesting information from adoption records, please see the Release of Information from Michigan’s Adoption Records pamphlet created by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
MDHHS has post adoption resource centers throughout the state. The centers provide a variety of support services to adoptees and their families. To learn more about what services are available and to whom, please visit the MDHHS website.
If you need a post-adoption birth certificate, please contact Vital Records in the state in which the adoptee was born.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR IDENTIFYING INFORMATION:
- Payment of Petition Fee - $60.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Adoption Information and Order – PCA327
- Only Identifying Information box checked on #3
- Form must be notarized
- Copy of Driver’s License
- Front and back
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR NON-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION:
- Payment of Petition Fee - $60.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Adoption Information and Order – PCA327
- Only non-identifying Information box checked on #3
- Form must be notarized
- Copy of Driver’s License
- Front and back
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR CONFIDENTIAL INTERMEDIARY:
- Payment of Petition Fee - $20.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition and Order to Appoint Confidential Intermediary – PCA342
- Copy of Driver’s License
- Front and back
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR COPY OF ORDER OF ADOPTION:
- Payment of Petition Fee - $35.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Petition for Adoption Information and Order – PCA327
- Only a certified copy of court-ordered adoption box checked on #3
- Form must be notarized
- Copy of Driver’s License
- Front and back