ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
adult adoption
Transfers statutes relating
to adult adoption from the Juvenile Division of the Superior Court to the
Superior Court.
According
to Arizona law, an adult may adopt another adult who is a stepchild, niece,
nephew, cousin or grandchild. Arizona’s
adult adoption statute also allows for foster parents to adopt former foster
children. Approximately 15 adult adoptions
take place per year in Maricopa County, according to the Administrative Office
of the Courts.
Since adult adoptions
currently take place under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Division of the
Superior Court, the records are sealed and fees must be paid in order to gain
access to the records. Accessing sealed
adoption records may become an issue when adoption records are needed to
distribute an inheritance. Transferring
adult adoption statutes from juvenile proceedings to probates and guardianships
should alleviate some of the burdens.
There
is no fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this bill.
1. Moves adult adoption statutes from the statutory section relating to juvenile proceedings to the statutory section relating to probates and guardianships.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 8, 2001