[dlhall]

Hope you don't mind, but I'm coming over from the Russian forum to ask some questions on my sister's behalf. She has an 11 year old daughter who her husband wants to adopt; there has been no contact with the bio dad for over 8 years (maybe 9). He's only made 1 or 2 support payments ever (and then would quit his job). My sister & her husband have been dragging their feet on adopting my niece because of fear that the bio dad would contest & would cause problems, but tragically my sister has just been diagnosed with a serious case of cancer and now they need to know what to do to get this adoption done in case my sister doesn't survive. So here are my questions:

Typically how long does a step-parent adoption take?
What are the typical costs?
What's the first step?
If anyone knows a lawyer in the Phoenix area they can recommend, please PM me.

Any information you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Liz

[BrandyHagz]

Typically how long does a step-parent adoption take?

In Arizona, a SPA requires a homestudy from a licensed Homestudy agency. I have no idea what the cost is there, I had a valid homestudy so I didn’t have to go thru that. In Arizona, ALL uncontested adoption are handled by the state at no charge…(excluding Homestudy and any legal fees required to file/execute legal documents)

What are the typical costs?

Bulk of the expense will be Homestudy related. The cost of the homstudy, of course, plus $12-$20 for fingerprinting the step parent, $38 for the state background check. Of course, for this to be easiest and quickest, the NCP (Bio father) will need to terminate his rights. It cost me $254.89 in legal fees to have the TPR for Arizona executed and witnessed.

What's the first step?

First, call the Adoption unit (Is she in Maricopa County?) and get the paperwork started.
Find out if NCP will willingly terminate his parental rights, it would be best if he would. Remember that offering to forgive past due support IS NOT legal and could result on the adoption being overturned!

If anyone knows a lawyer in the Phoenix area they can recommend, please PM me.

An attorney, if uncontested, is NOT required.

I highly recommend your sister try getting in contact with the NCP and sitting down for a talk.

I argued and fought with my sons NCP for six years…finally, one day he just agreed to do it…of course, during this time, I had been talking to him and trying to reason with him in a respectful manner…sometimes, eating crow is the best way to go.

Step parent adoptions are “Fast Tracked” in Arizona. I submitted my paperwork to Arizona on 8/16, my appointment for pretrial is 10/18 and the adoption will be finalized in November.

I am happy to talk to and help your sister if she’d like. PM me for my phone number

I can also recommend a homestudy worker in the area – she was doing my local update for me for a very reasonable sum.

Hope that helps

[dlhall]

Thanks, Brandy, that's a lot of help. I'll pass this on to my sister. I know completing this adoption is now a #1 priority.

Liz