questions & answers

Question: My partner and i are ready to have children, a girl we know came to us with the news she was pregnant and did not know what she was going to do. After a while we mentioned adopting, she was hoping we would. She is 100% about us adopting her baby. Now how do we legally do this...also my partner and i are gay so only one of us will be able to legally adopt but we are just at a total loss of what to do, how to do it, and even if this is possible.

Answer:

Due to the interests involved in an adoption (the child, the biological mother and father, the adoptive mother and father, any other biological family members), you may want to consult with an attorney to find out your rights and the specific laws in this situation. Depending on the specific situation, difference statutes and cases may apply.

Generally in Arizona, accoding to A.R.S. § 8-103, "any adult resident of this state, whether married, unmarried or legally separated is eligible to qualify to adopt children." There are many Arizona laws on adoption which can be found in Title 8, Chapter 1 of the Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.). You may want to review A.R.S.§ 8-106 which explains who must consent to an adoption. 

There are a number of procedures and qualifications that occur prior to a finalized adoption. For additional information on adoption, you may want to review the materials provided in the Adoption and Child Welfare article on this site. Additionally, you can find more information on adoption by contacting your local juvenile court or looking at the materials provided by your local court online. Maricopa County Superior Court provides some information on adoption through the court's website.

Again, due to the interests involved in an adoption and the specific laws and cases on the subject, you may want to consult with an attorney.