Civil legal organizations in Arizona are seeking your input to increase their ability to meet the civil legal needs of Arizona's lower income residents. Please complete this survey to assist in improving civil legal services in Arizona.
Encuesta de Necesidades Legales Civiles de Arizona
Las organizaciones legales civiles en Arizona buscan su opinión para aumentar su capacidad de satisfacer las necesidades legales civiles de los residentes de bajos ingresos de Arizona. Por favor complete esta encuesta para ayudar a mejorar los servicios legales civiles en Arizona.
Stepparent adoptions tend to not be as complicated as an agency or private placement adoption. There is no certification process, placement study, or accounting review, but you will have to have the biological, non-spousal, parent to terminate their parental rights.
A stepparent must have been married to the birth parent for at least 1 year and lived with the child for at least 6 months before applying.
Unless the child is a ward of the court, a stepparent does not need:
To be certified
A placement suitability study
An accounting review
Steps for Filing for adoption:
File a petition to adopt
Provide notice of hearing
Obtain a termination of parental rights of the other biological parent
A County Attorney is not required to represent you in a termination proceeding.
If you are not able to locate them or they refuse, you can petition the court for a judicial termination
If they are deceased, this is not required.
A home visit by a state-appointed official
Adoption hearing
The child must be present at the adoption hearing unless otherwise ordered by the court
