An adult adoption is one in which the adoptee is over 18 years of age. Individuals do not often think of an adult adoption, but it is a possibility. People may seek adult adoption for a number of reasons, but the most common that I have encountered are those who wish to formalize a loving relationship that has existed for a number of years. This includes adult children who wish to have a stepparent become their legal parent after they effectively raised them from their early years.

The most unusual adult adoption I have done involved a woman in her eighties adopting a woman in her fifties, who had been her companion and helper for many years. The younger woman's parents had died many years before, and the older woman's children were grown and gone. The younger woman had called the older woman “mom” for years before they finalized the adoption. After the adoption, their legal relationship finally matched the one they had created for themselves.

Requirements for an Adult Adoption

Requirements for an adult adoption are minimal. These include:

• Both individuals are adults, that is, 18 years of age or older;
• Both the adoptee and the adoptive parent are competent;
• The adoptee gives his or her consent to the adoption.

If a legal parent of the prospective adoptee is alive, he or she is given notice of the proceedings, but consent is not required. The only one who needs to consent to an adult adoption is the adoptee.

Consult with a Michigan Attorney About Adult Adoption

If you have questions or need assistance with adult adoption in Michigan, I welcome you to contact me for a consultation by calling 517-267-1500, sending an email to mary@conklinadoptionlaw.com or completing my online information form. I take great pleasure in guiding clients through the legal requirements necessary to formalize meaningful relationships in their lives.