Stepparent Adoption
Tucson Stepparent Adoption Attorney
If you are a stepparent looking to legally adopt your stepchild, the Law Office of Jessica C. Graves, PLLC can guide you through the Arizona stepparent adoption process. Attorney Jessica Graves has helped families throughout Tucson and Southern Arizona complete stepparent adoptions with compassion and expertise.
A stepparent adoption creates a permanent legal parent-child relationship, giving your family the security and recognition it deserves. Whether the other biological parent consents or a severance of parental rights is needed, we will walk you through every step.
Contact us today at 520-468-3838 for a consultation. Hablamos Español.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the other biological parent have to consent to a stepparent adoption?
A: Generally, yes. However, if the other parent has abandoned the child or failed to maintain a relationship, their consent may not be required if their parental rights are terminated through a severance proceeding, which is separate from the adoption.
Q: How long does a stepparent adoption take?
A: Most stepparent adoptions in Arizona are completed within 2 to 4 months, depending on whether the other biological parent consents or a severance is needed. The length of marriage will also determine how long the adoption process can take.
Q: Will my stepchild get a new birth certificate?
A: Yes. After the adoption is finalized, the state issues a new birth certificate listing you as the child’s legal parent.
Q: Can I change my child’s name after the adoption?
A: Yes. You can change the child’s name during the adoption process.
As always, it is important to contact an Arizona adoption attorney to have your questions answered for your specific circumstance, as each family’s case will be different.
Related Adoption Services
Our firm handles all types of adoption in Arizona. Learn more about our other adoption services:
- Placing a Child for Adoption — Support and legal guidance for birth mothers considering adoption in Arizona.
- Adoptive Parents — Comprehensive legal representation for families looking to adopt in Tucson.
- Relative & Grandparent Adoption — Legal services for grandparents and family members adopting a child.
- Foster Care Adoptions — Finalizing adoptions for children in the Arizona foster care system.
- Subsequent Adoption & Re-Adoption — Legal guidance for adopting a child who has been previously adopted.
Contact Arizona adoption attorney Jessica Graves today at 520-468-3838 to discuss your adoption case.
