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Adopting in Arizona

Not addressed in state statutes.

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Any adult resident of the state, whether married or single, or legally separated.

No.

Not unless the adoption facilitator is employed or affiliated with a licensed adoption agency or is a licensed attorney in Arizona (the fees for the attorney’s service must be approved by the court).

Otherwise unreimbursed medical, legal, and counseling expenses without prior court approval. If living expenses exceed $1000, advanced court approval is necessary.

Consent is irrevocable upon signing unless obtained by fraud, duress, or undue influence.

Citation: Admin. Code § R6-5-6603
Prior to accepting a certification application from a person contemplating adoption of a child, or an application for placement from a person who intends to seek a placement through the entity, an adoption entity shall provide the person with adoption orientation.

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 8-105; 8-112
The application for certification shall include a financial statement and a physician’s statement of the applicant’s physical health. An investigation of the prospective adoptive parents shall be conducted to determine whether they are fit and proper persons to adopt children.
The prospective adoptive parent and each adult member of the household must certify whether that person is awaiting trial on or has ever been convicted of any of the criminal offenses listed in § 41-1758.07(B)-(C). An officer of the court may obtain a State and Federal criminal records check.
The investigation and report to the court shall consider all relevant and material facts dealing with the prospective adoptive parents’ fitness to adopt children and shall include:
• A complete social history
• The financial condition of the applicant
• The moral fitness of the applicant
• The religious background of the applicant
• Physical and mental health conditions of the applicant
• Any court action for or adjudication of child abuse, abandonment of children, dependency or termination of parent-child relationship
• All other facts bearing on the issue of the fitness of the prospective adoptive parents
A social study shall be submitted to the court 10 days before the hearing on the petition to adopt. The social study shall include the following:
• The child’s adjustment to the adoptive parent(s)’ home
• The prospective adoptive parent’s suitability to adopt
• The existing and proposed arrangements regarding the child’s custody
• State and Federal criminal records checks and a central registry records check, including any history of child welfare referrals, of the prospective adoptive parent and each adult who is living permanently with the prospective adoptive parent
• Any other information that is pertinent to the adoption proceedings

Citation: Admin. Code § R6-5-6606
In determining whether to recommend certification of an applicant, the adoption entity shall consider all factors bearing on fitness to adopt, including, but not limited to:
• The length and stability of the applicant’s marital relationship, if applicable
• The applicant’s age and health
• Past, significant disturbances or events in the applicant’s immediate family, such as involuntary job separation; divorce; or death of spouse, child, or parent; and history of child maltreatment
• The applicant’s ability to financially provide for an adopted child
• The applicant’s history of providing financial support to the applicant’s other children, including compliance with court-ordered child support obligations
The certification report shall specifically note any instances in which an applicant has:
• Been charged with, been convicted of, pled no contest to, or is awaiting trial on charges of an offense listed in
Rev. Stat. § 46-141
• Lost care, custody, control, or parental rights to a child as a result of a dependency action or action to terminate parental rights
If the report recommends denial of certification, the adoption entity shall send the applicant written notice of the unfavorable recommendation and an explanation of the applicant’s right to petition the court for review.

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 8-105
Before any prospective adoptive parent may petition to adopt a child, the person shall be certified by the court as acceptable to adopt children. A certificate shall be issued only after an investigation. The investigation and report to the court must be completed within 90 days after the application for certification has been accepted.
Within 60 days after receiving the investigation report, the court shall certify the applicant as acceptable or unacceptable to adopt children based on the investigation report and recommendations of the report. A certification remains in effect for 18 months from the date of its issuance and may be extended for additional 1-year periods if after review the court finds that there have been no material changes in circumstances that would adversely affect the acceptability of the applicant to adopt.

Citation: Admin. Code § R6-5-6619
When a child is placed for adoption with a person who is not the child’s foster parent, a case manager from the adoption entity shall visit the home within 30 calendar days of placement to:
• Ensure that the adoptive parent received all available nonidentifying information on the child
• Address any questions or concerns the adoptive parent or child may have about the adoption process or placement
• Ensure that the family has addressed the educational needs of a school-age child
• Ensure that an adoptive parent who works has made appropriate child care arrangements
Following the initial placement visit, a case manager shall:
• Visit the adoptive family at least once every 3 months until the adoption is finalized, except when the adoptive child is a child with special needs the visits shall occur at least once a month
• Visit the adoptive family at least once every 3 months until the adoption is finalized, except when the adoptive child is a child with special needs the visits shall occur at least once a month
• Discuss the following issues with the adoptive parent if appropriate in light of the child’s age and development:
o How the presence of the child has changed familial relationships
o How the child and the extended family view each other
o The role each family member has assumed regarding child care and discipline
o How the parent is coping with the needs and demands of the placed child
o How the child challenges or tests the placement and how the family reacts to these episodes, including any feelings of insecurity about the propriety of the family members’ response
o How the family perceives the child’s sense of identity and the need to fill in gaps in the child’s history
o How the child has adjusted to the school environment
• If developmentally appropriate, privately interview the child about the child’s feelings about the adoption and the matters listed above