privateadoption.orgState overview
Arizona
A few of the basics in Arizona, in plain words. Tap a card to read it in full with its official source.
Any adult resident of Arizona may qualify to adopt. Nonresidents may adopt only a dependent child under Arizona juvenile court jurisdiction placed in their home by DCS under the ICPC, with other conditions. The child (other than in listed exceptions) must be present in Arizona when the petition is filed.
A.R.S. 8-103(A),(B); 8-102 · as of 2026-10-21
The certification investigation may be done by an officer of the court, a licensed adoption agency, DCS, or an entity contracted by DCS. The application goes directly to one of them. The later social study is done by DCS, an agency or an officer of the court.
A.R.S. 8-105(A); 8-112(A); 8-101(2) · as of 2026-10-21
The Arizona Department of Health Services (state registrar of vital statistics) keeps a confidential putative fathers registry. A man who wants notice of adoption proceedings files a notice of claim of paternity and willingness to support the child, on a DHS form, and may file before the child is born.
A.R.S. 8-106.01(A),(B) · as of 2026-10-21
Adoptions are heard in the juvenile division of the superior court, in the county where the adoptive parent lives or where the child is a ward. On request, the county attorney prepares the petition and acts as attorney without charge to the adoptive parent (not for contested cases).
A.R.S. 8-104; 8-101(8); 8-127(A) · as of 2026-10-21
Who to ask
These entries describe what Arizona law and agencies say. For what they mean for your family, ask an adoption attorney licensed in Arizona.
The PrivateAdoption guide app
The whole adoption, step by step
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