questions & answers

Question: Me and my boyfriend have 2 children together not to mention a child each from previous relationships. My son has seen his biological father twice his whole life and he is going to be 10 this month. My boyfriend wants to adopt my son. Is that even possible? What steps would we need to take?

Answer: Due to the interests involved in an adoption, you may want to consult with an attorney to find out your rights and the specific laws in this situation. Depending on the specific situation, different statutes and cases may apply. There are a number of procedures and qualifications that occur prior to a finalized adoption. You may want to review the Arizona adoption laws (beginning with A.R.S. § 8-101). You may also want to review the language in A.R.S. § 8-117(c) which says, "If the adoption is by the spouse of the child's parent, the relationship of the child to that parent remains unchanged by the decree of adoption."