Adoption

questions & answers

Question: If a friend wants me to adopt her unborn baby, and I am not yet certified to adopt when the baby is born, am I still allowed to take the baby home from the hospital?

Answer: The Arizona adoption laws begin at A.R.S. § 8-101, and continue from that point. As you will notice, these laws are intricate and complex - especially as they pertain to notice and consent. This is one of those procedures where the stakes are high, and the possibility of emotional injury is quite severe if something goes wrong in the process. Therefore, you may want to consult with an attorney who is familiar with adoption law. You may also want to visit The Adoption & Child Welfare LawSite which is a free, online service for both adoptive families and professionals. It is the nation’s only comprehensive searchable site for statutes, regulations, key cases and leading articles about adoption and child welfare law from all 50 states. Otherwise you may contact a lawyer referral service in your county: Maricopa County (602)257-4434, Pima County (520) 623-4625 or you can go to the State Bar of Arizona’s website to search for an attorney in your area.