Instructions for Delegation of Parental Authority (DPA)

Use the Do-It-Yourself Delegation of Parental Authority tool.

A Delegation of Parental Authority is valid in Michigan without a notary’s signature or witnesses’ signatures. However, some doctors, schools, or others may be more likely to accept it if the form is notarized and witnessed. If you can find witnesses and a notary, it is best to have them witness your signature and sign the form. 

Some other states require a DPA to be witnessed and notarized. If you have it witnessed and notarized, you can increase the chances that it will be accepted in another state, if needed. Also, health care professionals, schools, and others who will interact with this form are not legal experts. Even though people should accept the form without the signatures of witnesses and a notary, there is a chance they might not be sure if they should do what it says. Having the form witnessed and notarized may reassure doctors’ offices and schools that the form is valid. 

Notaries are often available at county offices, such as a county clerk, as well as banks, credit unions, law offices, and insurance companies. Some notaries will only sign documents as part of their employment. Call first to make sure the notary is willing to help with a document like this, and to find out whether they charge a fee.

If you are having your form notarized, do not sign the form until you are in front of the notary. Bring two witnesses with you. Sign the form in front of the witnesses and notary at the bottom of the first page where it says “Signature of Parent[s]”. After you sign (and the other parent, if signing), the witnesses should sign at the top of the second page where it says “Witnesses.” They should sign their name on the top line, and then print it clearly on the line directly below their signature. After you and the witnesses sign, give the form to the notary and they will complete their portion.

If you are not using witnesses and a notary, sign your form at the bottom of the first page where it says “Signature of Parent[s].”

If you included information about your children’s health care providers and medical information, it will be produced on the form called “Health Information Addendum.” This page is not required, but can be helpful to the person you named as caregiver.

It can also be helpful for the caregiver to have a copy of your children’s medical insurance card. If you want to make a copy of the front and back of the insurance card, attach it after the Health Information Addendum.

Keep the DPA in a safe place. If your agent (the person you name to care for your child) will use the form right away, give the original to the agent.

Some people choose to keep the original themselves if they are not leaving their child with the person named in the form right away.

What you do depends on how you are using the form and what feels safe to you. Keeping the form yourself ensures that the person you named does not assert parental authority before you want them to. Giving the original form to the person you named ensures that if an emergency arises, they will be able to make decisions right away without looking for paperwork first.

Make at least one copy of the DPA. Keep a copy for your own records when you give the original to the person who will care for your child. The caregiver will need the original signed form at the time they want to use it, so if you choose to keep the original yourself, make sure the person you named in the form knows how they can find the DPA if an emergency arises.