Case ID: mich-app_128/html/0710-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

IN THE MATTER OF CREED (AFTER REMAND)
    Docket No. 62197.
    Submitted February 8, 1983, at Lansing. —
    Decided September 14, 1983.
    The petitioners, Anna M. Creed and Frederick L. Creed, are husband and wife. In 1958, Anna Creed was raped by a black male. Neither she nor her husband, who are both white, reported the incident to authorities. Subsequently, Anna Creed gave birth to a black male child. The petitioners decided to give the child up for adoption. The hospital staff informed the petitioners that the hospital would make all of the necessary arrangements for adoption and that all information concerning their identity would remain confidential. In 1980, the petitioners were contacted by a 22-year-old black male who identified himself as the person whom they had given up for adoption. He claimed that his adoptive mother had given him a copy of his adoption records which listed his birth name. Thereafter, the Genesee County clerk’s office gave him a copy of his birth certificate which listed the petitioners as his biological parents. The petitioners filed a petition in Genesee Probate Court for the release of information concerning the adoption proceedings. The court, Harold E. Resteiner, J., held that petitioners could have access to nonidentifying information but that, because all identifying information was privileged, the petitioners could not have access to any identifying information. The petitioners appealed by leave granted, and the Court of Appeals held that the probate court erred in ruling that the petitioners were absolutely barred from obtaining any identifying information without first obtaining the adoptee’s consent to its release. Identifying information relative to a child adopted prior to 1980 may be released to the biological parents upon order of a court of record for good cause shown where the adoptee has not filed a consent to the release of such information. The Court of Appeals, while retaining jurisdiction, remanded the case to the probate court for a determination concerning whether good cause existed for the release of the information, 126 Mich App 32 (1983). On remand, the trial court, Harold E. Resteiner, J., held a hearing, determined that petitioners had shown good cause, and allowed petitioners to examine the adoption records of Keith Wayne Creed. Now, on appeal following remand, held: The determination by the probate court on remand that good cause was shown for the disclosure of the adoption records is correct. Therefore, the holding that the probate court erred in ruling that the petitioners were absolutely barred from obtaining any identifying information without first obtaining the adoptee’s consent to its release is affirmed.
    
      References for Points in Headnote
    2 Am Jur 2d, Adoption §§ 12.7, 58.
    Restricting access to judicial records of concluded adoption proceedings. 83 ALR3d 800.
    
      Affirmed.
    Adoption — Release of Records.
    Identifying information relative to a child adopted prior to 1980 may be released to the biological parents upon order of a court of record for good cause shown where the adoptee has not filed a consent to the release of such information (MCL 710.67; MSA 27.3178[555.67]).
    
      Lippitt, Lyons & Whiteñeld (by Sanford A. Rochkind), for petitioner.
    Amicus Curiae:
    Michigan Probate Judges Association (by Richard M. Barron).
    
    
      
       Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
    
   After Remand

Before: Danhof, C.J., and V. J. Brennan and N. A. Baguley, JJ.

Per Curiam.

The facts of this case are discussed in our previous opinion, In the Matter of Creed, 126 Mich App 32; 337 NW2d 41 (1983), and will not be repeated here. The previous appeal was remanded to the probate court for a hearing to enable the probate judge to determine whether petitioners had met the good cause requirement of MCL 710.67; MSA 27.3178(555.67).

Upon remand, the probate judge held a hearing and determined that petitioners had shown good cause. Petitioners were allowed to examine the adoption records of Keith Wayne Creed. We have examined the transcript of the probate court proceeding and agree that good cause was shown by petitioners.

Affirmed.