Information about:
Delegation Of Parental Authority (DOPA)
DELEGATION OF PARENTAL AUTHORITY FORM
What It Is:
A Delegation of Parental Authority (DOPA) is a legal document that allows someone else to care for your children when you are unable to do so. It grants permission for another person to make decisions regarding your child’s care, custody, and property.
Use:
With a DOPA, the designated agent can take care of your child, take them to medical appointments, and excuse them from school for reasons such as illness or other issues. However, a DOPA does not authorize the Attorney-in-Fact to make decisions related to adoption or marriage.
Key Facts:
A DOPA does not remove your rights to make decisions for your children.
You need to create a separate DOPA for each child.
It needs to be renewed every six months.
It is only necessary for you to sign the document for it to be valid.
While optional, having witnesses sign the document and having it notarized can increase the likelihood that doctors, schools, and other entities will accept it.
It is important that the person who will take care of your child has information about your child’s school, teacher information, doctor’s information, allergies, etc.
Instructions:
Decide who will be your child’s caregiver.
Download, print, and fill out the form
Sign it, and, if possible, have witnesses sign it as well and/or have it notarized.
Make a copy; keep the original in a place where the caregiver or a person you trust can access it if needed, and keep the copy with you. Give the original to your agent or caregiver if needed right away.
Make note of the date you need to renew it (six months from the date you signed it)
Optional: print, fill out, and attach this Health Information Addendum.
For More Information:
https://www.aclumich.org/app/uploads/2017/05/important_docs.pdf
https://legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-722-1555
https://www.lawhelpmn.org/self-help-library/fact-sheet/delegation-parental-authority-dopa
