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 that Court Staff is unable to provide legal advice.
Adoption petitions are processed by the Adoption Department, which is a division of the Kalamazoo County 9th Judicial Circuit Court. Adoption files are non-public and processed with the highest level of confidentiality.
For more information, please contact the Adoption Case Manager and Coordinator at 269-385-6041 or by emailing cjtann@kalcounty.com. Checklists are available upon request.
General Guidelines/Information:
- The petitioners 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 cash, 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
1536 Gull Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Fees:
- Filing Fee - $190.00
- Subsequent motions and petitions - $20.00
- Home Study Fee - $200.00
- Birth Certificate Fee:
- $50.00 check or money order payable to the State of Michigan – NOTE: this only applies for children born in Michigan.
- 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 could be requested in addition to the information listed below.
A step-parent adoption is a court process in which 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 PARENTAL RIGHTS:
Documents Required at Case Opening:
- Petition for Stepparent Adoption - PCA301b
- Supplemental Petition and Affidavit to Terminate Parental Rights – PCA302
- Copy of Support and/or Custody Order must be attached
- Must be Certified Copy if not completed in Kalamazoo County
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00
- Made payable to Kalamazoo County 9th Circuit Court
- Payment of Petition/Motion Fee - $20.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- This fee is only applicable if the secondary Petition is filed separately then the Petition for Stepparent Adoption.
- Payment of Home Investigation Fee - $200.00
- Made payable to Kalamazoo County 9th Circuit Court
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Birth Certificate
- Copy of Biological Parent and Step-Parent Marriage License
- Must be Certified Copy if out of State
- Central Registry Clearance Request for both Petitioners – DHS1929
- Copy of Petitioner’s Driver License or ID
- Front and Back side
- Copy of Petitioner’s Driver License or ID
- Certified Copy of Divorce OR
- Certified Acknowledgment of Paternity OR
- Certified Order of Filiation OR
- Notice to Prior Court of Proceedings – MC28
- Verified Accounting – With Verified Itemization and Receipts
NONCUSTODIAL PARENT CONSENTS TO ADOPTION:
Documents Required at Case Opening:
- Petition for Stepparent Adoption - PCA301b
- 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
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Birth Certificate for Adoptee
- Copy of Biological Parent and Step-Parent Marriage License
- Must be Certified Copy if out of State
- Central Registry Clearance Requests for both Petitioners – DHS1929
- Copy of Petitioners Driver License or ID
- Front and back side
- Copy of Petitioners Driver License or ID
- Certified Copy of Divorce OR
- Acknowledgment of Paternity OR
- Order of Filiation OR
- Notice to Prior Court of Proceedings – MC28
- Verified Accounting – With Verified Itemization and Receipts
PETITION TO ID FATHER & TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS:
Documents required at Case Opening:
- Petition for Stepparent Adoption - PCA301b
- Petition for Hearing to ID Father and Determine or Terminate His Rights – PCA310
- 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
- Payment of Petition Fee - $20.00
- Only applicable if secondary petition is filed separately than the Petition for Adoption
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Birth Certificate
- Copy of Biological Parent and Step-Parent Marriage License
- Must be a Certified Copy if marriage took place outside of Michigan
- Central Registry Clearance Request – DHS1929
- Copy of Petitioners Driver License or ID
- Front and back side
- Copy of Petitioners Driver License or ID
- Certified Copy of Divorce OR
- Acknowledgment of Paternity OR
- Order of Filiation OR
- Other
- Notice to Prior Court of Proceedings – MC28 (if applicable)
- Motion for Immediate Confirmation (Item 11 on Petition) (if applicable)
- Verified Accounting – With Verified Itemization and Receipts
A relative adoption is one in which 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 at case opening:
- Petition for Adoption - PCA301
- 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
- Application to Establish New Michigan Birth Record – DCH-0854
- Payment for New Michigan Birth Record - $50.00 (made payable to State of Michigan)
- If Adoptee was born in another state, please include that state’s form and fee
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Birth Certificate for the Adoptee
- Copy of Petitioner’s Marriage License (if applicable) –
- Must be Certified if Marriage took place outside of Michigan
- Central Registry Clearance Requests – DHS1929
- Copy of Petitioners Driver License or ID
- Front and back side
- Copy of Petitioners Driver License or ID
- Certified Copy Death Certificate of Biological Parent (if applicable)
- Copy of Order Terminating Parental Rights (if applicable)
- Must be certified if Order Terminating was not completed in Kalamazoo County
- Verified Accounting – With Verified Itemization and Receipts
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:
- Petition for Adoption - PCA301
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Birth Certificate for adoptee
- Copy of Petitioner’s Marriage License
- Must be Certified or Official Use Copy if out of state/country
- Central Registry Clearance Requests – DHS1929
- Copy of Petitioners Driver License or ID
- Front and back side
- Copy of Petitioners Driver License or ID
- Certified or Official Use Copy Death Certificate of Biological Parent (if applicable)
- Verified Accounting – With Verified Itemization and Receipts
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:
- Petition for Adoption – PCA301
- Payment of Fees - $190.00
- Made payable to 9th Circuit Court
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Adoptee’s Birth Certificate
- NA - Termination of Parental Rights
- Documents must be certified if the case took place in another county besides Kalamazoo
- Termination Order for Biological Parents
- Neglect Order – JC63
- Documents must be certified if the case took place in another county besides Kalamazoo
- AU – Termination of Parental Rights after Release or Consent (documents must be certified if the case took place in another county besides Kalamazoo):
- 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
- 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
- Social History of Adoptee
- Most recent update must have original signatures
- Social History of Biological Parents
- Most recent update must have original signatures
- Verified Accounting, with Verified Itemization and Receipts
- Petitioner(s) - PCA347 (7 Day)
- Agency - PCA345 (7 Day)
- Petitioner(s) - PCA347a (21 Day)
- Agency - PCA345 (21 Day)
- Letter indicating there are no competing parties IF state wards & rights not terminated in Kalamazoo County
- Original Notice to Adopting Parents on Pending or Potential Appeal/Rehearing - PCA325 (if applicable)
- Affidavit Re: Appeals and Rehearings (Kalamazoo County Form)
- Notice to Prior Court of Proceedings Affecting Minor(s) – MC28 (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:
- Statement of Parent/Guardian Authorizing Temporary Placement of Child for Adoption – PCA32
- 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)
- Payment of Filing Fee - $190.00
Documents required within 30 days of temporary placement:
- Petition for Adoption – PCA301a
- Certified or Official Use Copy of Adoptee’s Birth Certificate
- Custody Statement – PCA 316 OR
- Petition for Hearing to Identify Father – PCA310 AND Declaration of Inability to Identify/Locate Father – PCA315 OR
- Verified Declaration about Paternity – PCA356
- Follow Up Report After Temporary Placement of Child for Adoption – PCA333 (must be filed within 30 days of temporary placement)
- 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 actual document or scanned copy. Cannot be picture of document.
- Must be all pages.
- Medical Reports of Adoptee
- Must be current within one year
- Must be actual document or scanned copy. Cannot be picture of document.
- Must be all pages.
- Child’s Adoption Assessment – Identifying and Non-Identifying Information – DHS1927Social History of Adoptee
- Most recent update must have original signatures
- Verified Accounting, with Verified Itemization and Receipts – 7 Day
- Petitioner(s) - PCA347
- Agency - PCA345
- Parent or Guardian’s Verified Accounting – PCA348
- Copy of agency license IF private agency’s first time filing in Kalamazoo County
- Notice to Prior Court of Proceedings – MC28 (if applicable)
- Original Notice to Adopting Parents on Pending or Potential Appeal/Rehearing - PCA325
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. If you are seeking identifying or non-identifying information from an adoption file, a Petition for Adoption Information and Order - PCA327 - must be filed along with a copy of the requester’s identification. This form can also be used to request a certified copy of an order of adoption. 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 Petition and Order to Appoint Confidential Intermediary - PCA342 - is used for this purpose. 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.