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Adopting in Arizona
Adoption in Arizona
Arizona has many important laws surrounding adoption. Though not enough to fill the Grand Canyon. For instance, Adoptive Parents may not use an adoption facilitator unless the facilitator is employed or affiliated with a licensed adoption agency or is a licensed attorney in Arizona (the fees for the attorneyâs service must be approved by the court). When it comes to expenses, the law allows Adoptive Parents to cover otherwise unreimbursed medical, legal, and counseling expenses without prior court approval. If living expenses for the Birth Mom exceed $1000, advanced court approval is necessary. In Arizona, consent is irrevocable upon signing unless obtained by fraud, duress, or undue influence. You'd better believe, there are some great places to see sunrises and sunsets in the Grand Canyon state.
Home Study Providers in Arizona
PairTree Home Study
The Modern Way to Home Study
Adoption Attorneys in Arizona
21 Adoption Agencies in AZ
13
AAAA Attorneys in AZ
Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys
Who’s Waiting to Adopt in Arizona

Personality Type
Most Common Personality Types Amoung Waiting Families on PairTree
Data is from LifePair™ - Our proprietary, personality-based matching system.
Average Age
49 years old
Profession
Most Common Professions Amoung Waiting Families on PairTree
Family Structure
Political Affiliation
Education
Race
Find Families
Browse profiles and get to know our hopeful parents.
Traveling For Your Adoption in Arizona
Length of ICPC
in Arizona
1-30 days
Arizona participates in the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) – a statutory agreement between all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands. The agreement governs the placement of children from one state into another state. It sets forth the requirements that must be met before a child can be placed out of state. The Compact ensures prospective placements are safe and suitable before approval, and it ensures that the individual or entity placing the child remains legally and financially responsible for the child following placement.
Adoption Law FAQ in Arizona
Advertising Law Info
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Can adoptive parents advertise for birth parents?
Not addressed in state statutes.
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State Advertising Code of Law
This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.
Adoption Law Info
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Who Can Adopt?
Any adult resident of the state, whether married or single, or legally separated.
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Can out-of-state residents finalize an adoption?
No.
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Can adopting parents use an adoption facilitator or another paid intermediary?
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 attorneyâs service must be approved by the court).
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What birth parent expenses may be paid, and in what time period?
Otherwise unreimbursed medical, legal, and counseling expenses without prior court approval. If living expenses exceed $1000, advanced court approval is necessary.
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When does consent become irrevocable? If consent is revoked, is return to birth parent automatic?
Consent is irrevocable upon signing unless obtained by fraud, duress, or undue influence.
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Qualifications for Adoptive Parents for adoption
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.
Home Study Info
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Elements of a Home Study for Adoption
Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 8-105; 8-112
The application for certification shall include a financial statement and a physicianâs statement of the applicantâs 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 parentsâ 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 childâs adjustment to the adoptive parent(s)â home
• The prospective adoptive parentâs suitability to adopt
• The existing and proposed arrangements regarding the childâs 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 -
Grounds for Withholding Approval for Adoption
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 applicantâs marital relationship, if applicable
• The applicantâs age and health
• Past, significant disturbances or events in the applicantâs immediate family, such as involuntary job separation; divorce; or death of spouse, child, or parent; and history of child maltreatment
• The applicantâs ability to financially provide for an adopted child
• The applicantâs history of providing financial support to the applicantâs 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 applicantâs right to petition the court for review. -
When Home Studies Must Be Completed for Adoption
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. -
Postplacement Study Requirements for Adoption
Citation: Admin. Code § R6-5-6619
When a child is placed for adoption with a person who is not the childâs 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 childâs 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 membersâ response
o How the family perceives the childâs sense of identity and the need to fill in gaps in the childâs history
o How the child has adjusted to the school environment
• If developmentally appropriate, privately interview the child about the childâs feelings about the adoption and the matters listed above