by Van Den Heuvel Law Office Parental figures often become attached to children, even when they are not biologically theirs. This often happens when people become involved in a relationship with someone who has children of their own. A bond develops between the adult that is not the parent and the child. When the adult relationship […]

Posted in Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Family Law | No Comments »

by Van Den Heuvel Law Office Step-Parent Adoptions are not all the same. Before we start an indepth conversation, we need to discuss when a parent is “Putative”, or assumed to be the child’s parent, versus when there is an established parent. Easy Mistakes courts make in step-parent adoption: If the putative father attends the Hearing […]

Posted in Adoption, Family Law | No Comments »

by Justin Van Den Heuvel Legally, your spouse’s child is only your stepchild after you adopt him or her. Without adopting the child, you can have a great relationship, you can support him or her financially, and you can be a family, but you cannot call yourself his or her legal parent because you are not the […]

Posted in Adoption | No Comments »

by Van Den Heuvel Law Office In Michigan, the state’s Department of Human Services and private agencies arranged the adoption of more than 2,500 children in the 2012 fiscal year, most of whom were adopted by foster parents or relatives. Michigan statutes regulate adoption formalities that require you to file a formal request to adopt, or petition, in the appropriate probate […]

Posted in Adoption, Family Law | No Comments »