Adoption & Guardianship

Can a Step-Parent Become a Legal Guardian?

Sometimes when a parent remarries, a stepparent creates a meaningful bond with their partner’s child and desires to become the legal parent of that child. In Kent County, and most other counties in Michigan a couple must be married for one year before step parent adoption can be considered, and the biological parent must have no meaningful presence in the child’s life. In order to adopt a stepchild, the child’s other biological parent must give up their parental rights. Adopting a stepchild can be a beautiful step toward creating a family. It also can be a complex and sensitive legal issue and should be handled by a skilled attorney who is knowledgeable in the areas of adoption law and stepparent adoption.

Types of Guardianship

If you’re seeking to become the guardian of a child in Grand Rapids or West Michigan, the Family Law lawyers at Rodenhouse Law Group can help you evaluate your case and understand the legal issues surrounding guardianship. We are able to assist with all types of guardianship, including:

• Temporary Guardianship
• Permanent Guardianships
• Limited Guardianship
• Sole Guardianship
• Juvenile Guardianship
• Grandparent Guardianship And Grandparent’s Rights

Our guardianship attorneys are extremely knowledgeable about the law, as well as working with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), to understand what’s involved in your guardianship and custody case. Generally, obtaining guardianship of a minor can be a lengthy process that involves filing a guardianship petition, doing a home study and requires an annual check-in that ensures the child’s situation remains positive. You need a knowledgeable attorney on your side to inform you about what is legally possible and what the process of becoming a legal guardian of a child will be for you and your family.