Adoption

questions & answers

Question: I don't know who the father of my son is and there is no father listed on the birth certificate. My boyfriend would like to adopt my son when we marry in October- we have been together for 4 years. How do we start the adoption process?

Answer: The statute that governs the adoption is Arizona Revised Statutes, Section 8-106.  The statute requires the consent of the father if any of the following are true:  (a) the mother and father were married at the time of the conception or birth; (b) the father has adopted the child; (c) the father's paternity has been established by affidavit or the courts.  Because none of these provisions seem to apply in your case, your boyfriend should be able to adopt your child.   Your best bet is to talk with a lawyer to get the process started.  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 qualified for the program, for a $75 fee, Modest Means  will arrange a one hour consult with an experienced attorney.  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 Lwyer 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 consultutation for a fee of $35.  The telephone number is (520) 623-4625.