If you're considering adoption but worried about whether you'll have time to change your mind, it's important to understand Michigan's adoption consent laws. The timeline for changing your mind depends on when you sign consent and how long the baby has been placed with the adoptive family.

In Michigan, you can revoke your consent to adoption until the court enters a final adoption order—but after six months of placement, you can only do so by proving fraud or duress. This means you have the most flexibility to change your mind in the early months after signing, but adoption becomes increasingly permanent as time goes on.

American Adoptions wants you to feel confident in your decision, which is why we provide free counseling and support throughout the process. If you're feeling uncertain, talk to an adoption specialist who can help you work through your feelings and make the choice that's truly right for you and your baby.

This article will explain Michigan's consent and revocation laws, help you understand the emotions you may feel after placement, and show you how to get support if you're struggling with doubt.

Exciting news: We are in process of becoming licensed in Michigan. Coming Soon!

How Long Do I Have to Change My Mind After Adoption in Michigan?

Under Michigan law, birth parents have the right to revoke consent to adoption until the court enters a final adoption order. However, there's an important caveat: if the child has been placed with the adoptive parents for six months or more, you can only revoke consent by proving that it was obtained through fraud or duress.

After six months of placement: Revoking consent becomes much more difficult. At this point, Michigan law presumes that the adoption should move forward unless you can demonstrate in court that someone tricked you or forced you into consenting. Simply changing your mind or feeling regret is not sufficient grounds for revocation after six months.

After finalization: Once a judge signs the final adoption decree, the adoption is permanent and legal. At this point, you cannot get your baby back except in extremely rare circumstances involving fraud or other serious legal violations.

The timeline from signing consent to finalization typically takes several months to over a year, depending on court schedules and specific case circumstances. During this entire period (until finalization), you technically have revocation rights, but as explained above, those rights become more limited after six months of placement.

Adoption Consent in Michigan: What Every Birth Parent Needs to Know

Before understanding when you can change your mind, it's important to understand what consent means and when you'll be asked to sign it.

What is adoption consent?

Consent to adoption is a legal document where you voluntarily agree to terminate your parental rights and allow your child to be adopted. This is one of the most significant legal documents you'll ever sign, and Michigan law has specific requirements to ensure you're making this decision freely and with full understanding.

When can you sign consent in Michigan?

According to Michigan law (MCL 710.29), you cannot sign consent until you've been discharged from the hospital following your baby's birth, or 72 hours after birth—whichever comes first. This waiting period exists to give you time to:

• Recover physically from childbirth
• Meet your baby and understand what placement means
• Make your decision without being influenced by pain medication or the immediate stress of labor
• Ensure you're thinking clearly when you sign such an important document

What does signing consent mean?

When you sign consent to adoption, you're stating that:

• You understand you're terminating your parental rights
• You're doing so voluntarily, without pressure or coercion
• You understand the adoption will be permanent once finalized
• You've received counseling and understand your options

Before you sign, you should have the opportunity to speak with your own attorney (separate from the adoptive family's attorney) who can explain the document and answer your questions. American Adoptions ensures you have access to independent legal counsel.

Can You Revoke Consent After Signing?

Yes, but the process and requirements depend on how much time has passed since your baby was placed with the adoptive family.

Revocation before six months of placement:

If you want to revoke your consent within six months of placing your baby, you'll need to file a motion with the court. The process generally involves:

1. Contacting an attorney who can file the necessary paperwork with the court
2. Attending a hearing where a judge will consider your request
3. Demonstrating that revocation is in the best interest of the child (though this standard is less strict before the six-month mark)
4. If approved, the baby will be returned to your custody and the adoption will not proceed

During this period, the court will consider your reasons for wanting to revoke consent, but you don't have to prove fraud or duress. However, judges do consider the child's best interests and the amount of time that has passed since placement.

Revocation after six months of placement:

After six months, Michigan law makes it significantly harder to revoke consent. At this point, you must prove that your consent was obtained through:

• Fraud: Someone intentionally deceived you about material facts related to the adoption
• Duress: You were threatened, coerced, or pressured into consenting against your will

Simply feeling regret, experiencing grief, or wishing you had made a different choice is not sufficient grounds for revocation after six months. The law recognizes that by this point, the child has bonded with the adoptive family, and disrupting that relationship would be harmful unless there were serious legal violations in obtaining your consent.

Getting your baby back after adoption:

Many birth mothers wonder, "Can I get my baby back after adoption?" The answer depends on timing and circumstances. Before finalization and especially before six months, there's a legal pathway to revoke consent. After finalization, adoption is permanent, and getting your baby back would require proving extraordinary circumstances in court—something that rarely succeeds.

Why Hormonal Shifts After Birth May Trigger Second Thoughts

It's completely normal to experience intense emotions and even doubt after placing your baby for adoption. Understanding what's happening in your body can help you recognize which feelings are temporary and which reflect your true long-term needs.

What happens hormonally after birth:

After you give birth, your body goes through dramatic hormonal changes. Your levels of estrogen and progesterone—which were high throughout pregnancy—drop sharply. At the same time, your body begins producing prolactin and oxytocin, hormones designed to facilitate bonding and breastfeeding.

These hormones trigger powerful maternal instincts. Your body is essentially telling you to keep your baby close, protect them, and care for them. These instincts exist regardless of whether you're parenting or placing for adoption—they're biological responses, not reflections of whether adoption is the right choice.

How hormones can affect your adoption decision:

Many birth mothers experience intense feelings in the days and weeks after placement:

• Overwhelming sadness or grief
• Physical aching to hold the baby
• Intrusive thoughts about the baby's wellbeing
• Doubt about whether adoption was the right choice
• Guilt or feeling like you've made a terrible mistake

These feelings are real and valid, but they're also influenced by postpartum hormones. As your hormones stabilize over the following weeks and months, these intense feelings typically become less overwhelming. The grief may remain, but the biological urgency often subsides.

This doesn't mean your feelings aren't real:

Understanding the hormonal component doesn't invalidate your emotions. Grief after placement is genuine and should be processed with support from counselors who understand adoption. However, recognizing that some of the intensity comes from temporary hormonal shifts can help you distinguish between crisis-level panic and the normal, difficult grief that comes with adoption.

If you're experiencing overwhelming doubt in the first few weeks after placement, reach out to your adoption counselor. They can help you determine whether what you're feeling is temporary hormonal response, normal adoption grief, or genuine regret that might warrant reconsidering your decision (if you're still within the revocation period).

Doubt Happens— Remember Why You Chose Adoption

Feeling doubt after signing consent doesn't automatically mean you made the wrong decision. Doubt is a normal part of processing such a significant choice.

When doubt creeps in, it can be helpful to revisit why you chose adoption in the first place. What circumstances led you to this decision? What hopes did you have for your baby's future? What limitations did you recognize in your ability to parent at this time?

If you felt strongly enough to make this incredibly difficult decision, those reasons likely still exist. The situation that made parenting feel impossible or unsustainable probably hasn't changed just because a few days or weeks have passed.

If you're struggling with doubt, call an adoption specialist anytime, day or night. They can help you work through what you're feeling and determine the best path forward—whether that's finding peace with your decision or exploring revocation if you're within the legal timeframe.

Hear from Birth Mothers Who Have Been In Your Shoes

Hearing from other birth mothers who have walked this path can provide perspective and comfort. You can read stories and watch videos at American Adoptions' birth mother testimonials page to hear directly from women who have experienced the grief, doubt, and healing that comes after adoption.

One birth mother shared: "The first few weeks were the hardest. I questioned everything and felt this physical ache to have her back. But as time went on and I saw the photos of her with her family, I started to feel peace. I still miss her, and I think about her every day, but I know I made the right choice for both of us."

These stories show that while adoption is difficult and grief is real, many birth mothers find peace and even pride in their decision over time.

After the Revocation Period: What Happens Next in Adoption?

Once the revocation period has effectively passed—either because six months have elapsed or because the adoption has been finalized—adoption becomes permanent.

Legal permanency:

After finalization, the adoptive parents have full legal parental rights, and you no longer have any legal claim to the child. The child's birth certificate is amended to show the adoptive parents as the legal parents. The adoption is treated the same as if the child had been born to the adoptive parents.

What this means for your baby:

Permanency provides stability and security for your child. They grow up knowing their family, with no legal uncertainty about their status. This permanency is one of the reasons adoption can be such a positive outcome—it gives children the lifelong family commitment they need to thrive.

Open adoption relationships:

Even though adoption is legally permanent, many birth mothers maintain contact with their child through open adoption arrangements. These relationships can include photos, letters, video calls, or even in-person visits, depending on what was agreed upon.

It's important to note that in Michigan, open adoption agreements are not legally enforceable. This means they're based on the good faith of the adoptive family. American Adoptions carefully screens families and works to facilitate healthy open adoption relationships, but the legal permanency of the adoption exists separately from any communication agreements.

Why Adoption Decisions Are Supported with Counseling

One of the most important safeguards in the adoption process is professional counseling. American Adoptions provides free counseling to every birth mother considering adoption, and this support continues after placement.

Counseling before signing consent:

Before you sign consent to adoption, you'll have access to counselors who can help you:

• Explore your feelings about adoption
• Understand your options (parenting, adoption, or other alternatives)
• Process fears and concerns
• Identify resources that might help you parent if that's what you want
• Ensure you're making this decision freely and for the right reasons

This counseling isn't designed to push you toward adoption—it's designed to help you make the choice that's truly right for you. If during counseling it becomes clear that you don't want to choose adoption, your counselor will support you in that decision and help connect you with resources for parenting.

Counseling after placement:

The support doesn't end when you sign consent. You'll continue to have access to counseling after placement to help you:

• Process grief and loss
• Work through complicated emotions
• Develop healthy coping strategies
• Navigate your relationship with the adoptive family
• Understand the emotions of adoption

This ongoing support helps ensure you have the resources you need to heal and find peace with your decision.

What If I'm Still Unsure About Adoption?

If you're reading this article and still feeling deeply uncertain about adoption, that's okay. Uncertainty doesn't mean you have to move forward with adoption immediately.

You have options:

• Delay signing consent: You can wait longer than the minimum 72 hours after birth before signing consent. Take the time you need to be sure.
• Talk to a counselor: Work through your feelings with a professional who specializes in adoption. They can help you sort through uncertainty and determine what's driving it.
• Explore resources for parenting: If you're considering adoption primarily due to financial concerns, explore what assistance might be available to help you parent. Your adoption specialist can connect you with resources.
• Consider temporary custody: In some cases, it may be possible to arrange temporary custody with the adoptive family while you take more time to decide. This isn't available in all situations, but it's worth discussing with your adoption specialist.

Don't let pressure drive your decision:

You should never feel pressured to choose adoption. This decision must be yours, made freely and with full understanding of what it means. If you're feeling pressured by family members, the baby's father, or even the adoptive family, talk to your counselor. They can help you set boundaries and ensure your voice is heard.

How American Adoptions Supports Birth Mothers

Whether you're still deciding about adoption, you've recently placed your baby, or you're struggling with doubt after signing consent, American Adoptions is here to support you.

Your adoption specialist is available 24/7 to talk through your feelings, answer questions about Michigan adoption law, and help you access the resources you need. This support includes:

• Free, confidential counseling before and after placement
• Clear explanations of your legal rights and options
• Help understanding Michigan's consent and revocation laws
• Resources for parenting if you decide adoption isn't right for you
• Ongoing emotional support as you heal from placement

If you're experiencing doubt, don't suffer in silence. Reach out today to talk with someone who understands what you're going through and can help you find clarity and peace, whatever decision you ultimately make.

We're here for you—not to pressure you in any direction, but to support you in making the choice that's right for you and your baby.

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