Legal Question in Family Law in Michigan

Re: signing your rights away

Just tell her that you will sign off on the adoption if she waives past due support. William S. Stern

Re: signing your rights away

Your ex and her new husband could be married forever and it wouldn't affect your requirement to pay support. If her new husband wants to adopt the child, then you can agree, and your responsibility would stop at that point. There really is no "signing your rights away" unless it is signing adoption papers. If her new husband does not wish to adopt the child, and merely wishes to be a step-parent, you will have to pay until the child is at least 18.

Good luck!

Re: signing your rights away

As to the back support: you would be responsible for paying support until such time as the support order was modified or the step parent adoption is confirmed. Once adoption is confirmed, child support obligation ends as of the date of termination of parental rights. The confirmation of adoption will eliminate the obligation to pay current support, but it will not eliminate back support without a court order to that effect.

The ex and her new husband can file a Petition for Step-parent Adoption in your county of residence. The filing fee is $150.00 to file the Petition for Adoption per child. Additional fees include $10.00 for the Order Confirming Adoption and $26.00 for the new Michigan birth certificates after the adoptions are finalized.

It usually takes four to six months to complete the adoption process.

Good luck!