Adoption Certification Cases

Adoption Certification (AC) The Court is responsible for certifying that a prospective adoptive parent is suitable to adopt. Per ARS (Arizona Revised Statute) ARS § 8-105, the Court will consider:

• A complete social history.
• The financial condition of the applicant.
• The moral fitness of the applicant.
• The religious background of the applicant.
• The physical and mental health condition of the applicant.
• Any court action for, or adjudication of, child abuse, abandonment of children, dependency or termination of parent-child relationship in which the applicant had control or custody of the child who was the subject of the action.
• The submission of a fingerprint card and the results of a check of official fingerprint records based on such submission.
• Whether the person or persons wish to be placed on the central adoption registry.
• All other facts bearing on the issue of the fitness of the prospective adoptive parents that the court, agency or division may deem relevant.

Per ARS § 8-105, Preadoption certification is not required for prospective adoptive parents when (refer to ARS § 8-105 for complete information):

• The prospective adoptive parent is the spouse of the birth or legal parent of the child to be adopted or is an uncle, aunt, adult sibling, grandparent or great-grandparent of the child of the whole or half-blood or by marriage or adoption.
• The birth or legal parent is deceased but at the time of death the parent had legal and physical custody of the child to be adopted and the child had resided primarily with the spouse of the birth or legal parent during the twenty-four months before the death of the parent.
• The grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, adult sibling or uncle is deceased but at the time of death that person had legal and physical custody of the child to be adopted and the child had resided primarily with the spouse of the grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, adult sibling or uncle during the twenty-four months before the death of the grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, adult sibling or uncle.
• If the applicant has adopted a child within three years preceding the current application and is applying to adopt another child or is a foster parent who is licensed by this state, the division or agency or a person designated by the court to conduct an investigation shall only provide an update report on any changes in circumstances that have occurred since the previous certification or licensing report. (for complete information, refer to ARS § 8-105).