[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/what-is-the-michigan-family-protection-act\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/what-is-the-michigan-family-protection-act\/","headline":"What Is the Michigan Family Protection Act?","name":"What Is the Michigan Family Protection Act?","description":"Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Michigan Family Protection Act (MFPA) into law in April 2024. The MFPA is a group of nine laws that update how Michigan handles surrogacy and assisted reproduction. The law gives all parents, including LGBTQ+ parents and those using IVF or surrogacy, equal legal rights from the start. It also makes […]","datePublished":"2025-05-08","dateModified":"2025-09-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/author\/james-kraayeveld\/#Person","name":"James Kraayeveld","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/author\/james-kraayeveld\/","identifier":29,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f327c36375f93cacc1f5818cbd6ca5f9c1c362ddf86682a8d1f0adac2b1f6198?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f327c36375f93cacc1f5818cbd6ca5f9c1c362ddf86682a8d1f0adac2b1f6198?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Kraayeveld Family Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Kraayeveld-Logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Kraayeveld-Logo.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/what-is-the-michigan-family-protection-act.png","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/what-is-the-michigan-family-protection-act.png","height":900,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/what-is-the-michigan-family-protection-act\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_mGvkhSiV2Q#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_mGvkhSiV2Q","name":"New Michigan Surrogacy Law (2025) \u2013What You Need to Know Now \ud83d\udc76\u2696\ufe0f","description":"New Michigan Surrogacy Law (2025) \u2013What You Need to Know Now. As of April 2, 2025, surrogacy agreements in Michigan are officially legal and enforceable. That\u2019s a huge shift for unmarried couples, LGBTQ+ families, and intended parents using donors or surrogates.\n\n\ud83d\udc68\u200d\u2696\ufe0f In this video, Michigan family law attorney Jim Creve breaks down the new laws, including:\nThe Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act (AARSPA)\nNew rights for same-sex and unmarried parents\nLegal requirements for surrogates and intended parents\nChanges to the acknowledgment of parentage and gender-neutral law terminology\nWhat lawyers and families need to know to protect their rights in 2025","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/_mGvkhSiV2Q\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/_mGvkhSiV2Q\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/_mGvkhSiV2Q\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/_mGvkhSiV2Q\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/_mGvkhSiV2Q\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2025-04-19T18:00:29+00:00","duration":"PT8M2S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_mGvkhSiV2Q","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCIFBq8W6k05pXgw0k98DZPQ#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCIFBq8W6k05pXgw0k98DZPQ","name":"Kraayeveld Family Law","description":"\nGrand Rapids family law attorneys helping clients with divorce and child custody disputes in West Michigan.\n","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/0ucpS3xzwE2Lhnwtcd7eoF0oLwq7VmOIYlMbRuDAMZJdnz1G6W69BDWIvkGPEEHYXHzsdvPDLg=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_mGvkhSiV2Q#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_mGvkhSiV2Q#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_mGvkhSiV2Q&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_mGvkhSiV2Q#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":121}]]},"about":["Family Law"],"wordCount":493,"articleBody":"Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Michigan Family Protection Act (MFPA) into law in April 2024. The MFPA is a group of nine laws that update how Michigan handles surrogacy and assisted reproduction. The law gives all parents, including LGBTQ+ parents and those using IVF or surrogacy, equal legal rights from the start. It also makes paying a surrogate in Michigan legal and sets rules to protect everyone involved.The law removes the old ban that made paid surrogacy a crime in Michigan. It also simplifies the legal process for parents to be recognized on their child\u2019s birth certificate. Now, families can avoid lengthy, expensive court processes just to confirm who a child\u2019s legal parents are.At the bill signing, Governor Whitmer said, \u201cYour family\u2019s decisions should be up to you.\u201d The Michigan Family Protection Act puts that idea into action by removing barriers to family-building across the state.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow the MFPA Changes Parentage and Paternity Laws in MichiganThe Michigan Family Protection Act updates several parts of Michigan family law, especially around parentage and paternity. Before the new law, many families, especially those using assisted reproduction or surrogacy, had to go to court to confirm legal parental rights. That process often took months and cost thousands of dollars.Now, the new law gives parents more direct and fair options:Under the updated Michigan assisted reproduction laws, a non-birthing spouse in a marriage, such as in an LGBTQ+ relationship, now receives automatic legal parent status. The law also allows parents to establish legal parentage through an administrative process instead of going to court. That gives families a faster and more affordable path to secure their parental rights.The MFPA also modernizes surrogacy laws in Michigan. It allows intended parents to get a pre-birth parentage order, which means their names can go directly on the child\u2019s birth certificate once the baby is born. That gives parents the legal authority they need from day one, which can be critical in emergency situations or when making medical decisions.The changes bring more clarity and security to all families, including those formed through IVF and surrogacy. The law aims to protect children and parents alike by making sure legal rights reflect people\u2019s actual relationships, not just biology or outdated rules.The legal updates matter in cases of divorce or custody disputes. Courts now have clear rules to follow when deciding who holds legal parental rights. That gives families more predictability and fairness during legal challenges.Need Legal Guidance About the MFPA? We\u2019re Here to HelpIf you have questions about how the Michigan Family Protection Act could affect your parental rights, custody situation, or divorce case, contact Kraayeveld Family Law now. Our team has over 30 years of experience handling complex family law matters in Michigan. We can discuss your options and what steps to take next.Get in touch with us today to arrange your initial consultation with our Michigan family law attorneys."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What Is the Michigan Family Protection Act?","item":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/what-is-the-michigan-family-protection-act\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]