ADOPTION SERVICES
PERMANENT COURT WARD ADOPTION SERVICES in MICHIGAN
“Adoption is not about finding children for families; it’s about finding families for children.”
– Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao
Permanent court ward adoptions are adoptions involving foster children whose parent’s parental rights have been terminated. Foster parents, relatives, and unrelated Michigan resident(s) may elect to start or expand his/her/their family by adopting a foster child. Foster parent(s), relatives and non-related Michigan resident(s) may adopt foster children who are permanent court wards from other states as well. Anyone who adopts a foster child is an unsung hero.
OUR LAW FIRM
- Will explain the process step by step.
- Will ensure compliance with the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children Law, if applicable.
- Will prepare all legal documents.
- Will represent you in all court hearings.
- Will review and advocate to ensure the adoption assistance subsidy is accurate before completion of the adoption.
- Will review and advocate to ensure the adoption medical subsidy is accurate before completion of the adoption.
- Will address any questions that may arise.
I authored a detailed manual titled Adopting a Child from the Michigan Child Welfare System: A Step-By-Step Guide from Foster Care Through Adoption. The manual empowers everyone, (foster parents, relatives, Michigan residents, caseworkers, attorneys, MCI superintendent, judges, referees, and others) in the foster care system with the knowledge to advocate and ensure each foster child has an opportunity to flourish. The manual provides in-depth knowledge about the foster care system ,including a hypothetical case from removal of a child through termination of his/her parent’s parental rights. The manual also provides step-by-step instructions as to adoption.
The book is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to adopt a child from the foster care system in Michigan. The step-by-step guide is thorough, comprehensive and resourceful. Mark explains each of the interested stakeholders in the process and the law surrounding each entity’s role in adoption. The hypothetical scenarios explain the possible situations that may arise and guides the reader through easy-to-follow steps and legal terms. This book is highly recommended for individuals and couples interested in adopting a foster child in the state of Michigan. The way that Mark explains the situations, the law and the results is easily understandable and simple to follow.
A well written, knowledgeable, practical guide to navigating the adoption process. Filled with useful invaluable tips from the author to help avoid the common pitfalls within the system. The best practical guide out there.
This book is a well-crafted resource for prospective adoptive parents, foster care parents, caseworker and others interested in adoption in Michigan. It takes a potentially overwhelming process and breaks it down into clear, manageable steps. The inclusion of “Mark’s Tips” throughout the book, drawn from the expertise of the author, an attorney with extensive experience in the field, is a standout feature. These tips provide practical, actionable advice to help readers navigate legal complexities. Additionally, the book incorporates hypothetical scenarios that make legal jargon easier to understand and apply to real-life situations. This thoughtful combination of expert insights and relatable examples ensures the manual is both informative and accessible, making it an essential guide for anyone pursuing adoption or foster care in Michigan.
Coming from someone that has been in the field of adoption for about 15 years this book is a MUST HAVE if you plan on going through the child welfare system in Michigan. Mark did a phenomenal job of creating a step-by-step manual for anyone to use. I found the information provided in chapter 19 section 8 was crucially important to me as I check to make sure the agency working with the family has done everything, they can get the child as much help as possible and knowing the process I can now make sure that they truly have done everything. I also think this book should sit on the bench of any referee or Judge that works with children in the child welfare system.
Mark has written a wonderfully comprehensive guide to adoption in the state of Michigan. This book provides, not only a step-by-step guide on the adoption process, but also hypothetical scenarios to help explain each step in a simulated real-life situation. The adoption process is filled with legal terms and phrases that Mark explains within the context of the reading. He also provides tips that an adoptive parent would not find anywhere else! I highly recommend this book if you are thinking of adopting in the state of Michigan. It is informative and breaks it down into understandable sections.