questions & answers

Question: My daughter's biological father passed away 6 months after she was born. My husband of 4 years and I are expecting a child and he'd like to legally adopt my daughter and change her last name from my maiden name to my married name. What's required for this process? Are their forms for it? Thank you!

Answer: You will need to go through the courts in order for your husband to adopt your daughter.  You may need the biological father's death certificate to make the change.  You should at least talk to a lawyer before you begin.  There are 3 programs in Arizona that you can use to get some inexpensive legal advice and guidance.  One is the Modest Means Program.  If you are financially qualified for the program, for a $75 fee, Modest Means  will arrange a one hour consult with an experienced attorney.  If you need additional help and the attorney agrees to take your case, the fee charged will not exceed $75 per hour.  The telephone number is (866)637-5341.  Both the Maricopa and Pima County Bar Associations have lawyer referral programs that offer a 30 minute consult with an experienced attorney.  Maricopa County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute consult for a fee of $40.  The telephone number is (602) 257-4434.  Pima County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute consultation for a fee of $35.  The telephone number is (520) 623-4625.  If you cannot afford a small fee to consult a lawyer, you can go elsewhere on this website and fill out an application to see if you qualify for a free attorney.  Go to:  http://azlawhelp.org/accesstojustice.cfm