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Thank you 4honor for the information.

Am I asking for the wrong information? FERPA is for the release of school records? What about medical records? would they both fall under the same law or is there something different for medical?

Thank you again
KB

Hi All

I need information on FERPA laws in Michigan. I looked in the articles section and read what info was in the article. The article had links for Michigan and none of them work. I went looking myself and can't seem to find what I need.

Here is my situation.
DH has 3 minor children in Michigan. Last time we requested records from the childrens Dr's we sent a copy of the court order to show that DH has a right to the records. One of the providers wanted more info then that before they will release records.

Through this site I have found out that Medical providers are required by law to provide requested records to parents unless they have been provided with a court order stating that parent has no legal right to the records. I do not feel that my husband should contantly be spending the extra money to copy the court order for all the Dr's.

From what I have read the laws are different for each state. Can anyone direct as to where I can find information on Michigan laws pertaining to the release of medical records. Rather then sending a copy of the court order with our request I would rather reference the law in our letter.

Thank you in advance for any info you can provide.
KB

Dipper,
           I'm really sorry to hear about your ss, I have been reading your pst for a while and feel for the situation you and dh are in.

           You mentioned concerns about medical cost so I would like to suggest you locate a Shriners Burn center, see what you need to do to get ss seen. Shriners does not charge for their services. If they are able to get the insurance to cover any of it, then you don't have to pay the deductables and such. It is worth checking into.

         Next, I  know you all are upset but I need to play devils advocate for a minute. I understand the thought of DH not seeing his son for a while is heart breaking but sometimes things happen and we have to make changes and deal with it. My ex had to go over two months without having DD to his home on two different occasions after her major surgeries. He never complained, I took off unpaid and took care of her and he called and checked on her regularly, came over to visit, or picked her up for the day then brought her back home.
         It is in the best interest of the child not to be fought over right now. It is in the best interest of the child not to be moved a lot and to get plenty of rest and allow his body and his mind to heal. A burn injury will be with him for the rest of his life both physically and mentally. This is the time he needs to see his parents working together for him!! Screw  all her 20 yo friends, that is not the issue right now, ss and his health are the number one priority over Everything else.
         If the doctors are recommending he not travel much right now, then let it go. Don't make him travel. Go spend a weekend in a hotel near grandmas house. Either a short trip to the hotel so that he is not traveling to much, or suck it up and go visit him at grandmas during the day. Again, this is not about anyone else but ss.


My sympathy to all of you, good luck with everything and keep us informed.
KB

Tell your wife that I am a step mom too and I know we are not bad. The point is, I have NO LEGAL right to my step childrens records nor do I or any other Step Parent have any LEGAL right to decide what a Bio parent can or can't have access to.

I know SM is taking care of DD, the problem is that SM is telling everyone that she is her MOTHER and she isn't. I carry insurance on her and SM doesn't use it because she knows I would get notification of the visits even if it is after the fact.

I have not and would not Ever take that position with my step children. When and if they see the doctor when they are with us, their father takes them, not me. When records are requested, their father request them not me. I am their step mother and it is not my place nor am I legally intitled to any of that info.

It is my opinion that SM if acting fraudulently when she states or implies that she is DD Mother.

I do wish you luck and you have been given some good advise. I'm glad to see you being involved. DD BF didn't participate for the 14 years I had custody and he doesn't participate now that he has custody. SM takes her to all Dr.'s appointments and I'm not even told about them unless DD says something to me. BF has SM make all decisions like putting DD on birth control and I am never even consulted, then when I do try to get information I'm denied.

Sorry, touchy subject.

Just thought I would jump in here.

I sent DD school principle an email asking what I needed to do to get a copy of my DD report cards and ARD records. I fully intended to provide them with a written request and possibly even a copy of the court order to show I had a right to the record.
Well to my surprize I got a call two days later from the principle stating that she had given my email address to the registrar (sp) and the ARD administrator and that they would be contacting me to see where I wanted the information sent to. I was shocked and a little bothered by the fact that they didn't even want me to prove who I was. I did mention that they could find my name in the previous 10 or 11 years of my daughters records if that helped. So I sent an email with my address, and before to long I had what I asked for in my mail box.

Heres the kicker! I find out about a month later through a slip from DD that the school contacted SM and got permission to release the records to me. So it isn't bad enough that you have schools who are letting one bio parent dictate what another bio parent gets, I have a Step Parent determining what I'm allowed to know.
I have already been refused records from a medical provider stating that they won't get involved in a dispute and that only one copy of the record is being release and that they have MOM as the contact person.  The MOM that they are referring to is SM, not me.
 

Are you planning to file for divorce?

I would suggest in the filing that you prepare for long distance visitation.

Possibly worded that if you or your ex move over (___) miles from the other, you will get the entire summer, every other Christmas (the whole break, not just half of it) and things like that. I would also suggest that it be stated that the party that moves is responsible for the travel cost or if you think both of you may move at some point, it may be stated that travel be split between the parties. That way you only have to pay the travel cost or half of the cost 2 or 3 times a year, instead of every other weekend and you get longer period of time with your daughter.

I would say to make things legal as soon as possible.

As far as the possible abuse charges... Try to have someone around as much as possible. Soon to be Ex doesn't have to know. A friend, family member, what ever. That way if there are aligations you have a witness to the visits. (My husband feared this from his ex, so we purposely made sure he had witnesses around)

KB