Procedures: How To File For Adult Adoption

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Procedures: How To File For Adult Adoption is a commonly used form within Arizona. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Procedures: How To File For Adult Adoption

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Procedures: How To File For Adult Adoption:

• This form pertains to the State of Arizona

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Arizona’s Form pbaa10pz - Procedures: How To File For Adult Adoption up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct Arizona form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Arizona probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form pbaa10pz, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in AZ are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form pbaa10pz online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form pbaa10pz witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Procedures: How To File For Adult Adoption to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

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Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Arizona.

5 reasons you should submit pbaa10pz as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster Arizona can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Arizona. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of Arizona is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Arizona probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Arizona probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form pbaa10pz, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Procedures: How To File For Adult Adoption is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Arizona probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Arizona.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form pbaa10pz - Procedures: How To File For Adult Adoption f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Arizona probate court office.

Procedures: How To File For Adult Adoption is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Arizona-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Arizona Form pbaa10pz - Procedures: How To File For Adult Adoption. You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

© Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County PBAA10p 062521 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 1 of 4 Law Library Resource Center Procedures: How to File for an Adult Adoption Warning: Read all of these instructions in their entirety. Failure to follow these instructions may result in the proposed adoption being delayed and, in some cases, denied. STEP 1. Complete the form titled Agreement of Adoption and Petition for Decree of Adoption of an Adult, and then make at least 3 copies of the completed document. STEP 2. If the adult who is being adopted (the “Adoptee”) or the person who is adopting that adult (the “Adopter”) is married, have that person’s spouse complete the form titled Consent to Adult Adoption and Waiver of Notice, and then make at least 3 copies of the completed document. STEP 3. Fill out the following documents (no additional copies are necessary) • Adult Adoption Cover Sheet • Information Sheet to Court Investigator STEP 4. File Documents with the Clerk of Superior Court: When and Where: The Clerk of Superior Court is open from 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m., Monday-Friday. You should go at least two hours before closing time. The Clerk has filing counters at the following Superior Court locations: Downtown Phoenix: Northeast Phoenix: Central Court Building, 1st Floor Northeast Regional Court Facility 201 West Jefferson 18380 North 40th Street Phoenix, AZ 85003 Phoenix, AZ 85032 Surprise: Mesa: Northwest Regional Court Facility Southeast Court Facility, 1st Floor 14264 West Tierra Buena Lane 222 East Javelina Avenue Surprise, AZ 85374 Mesa, AZ 85210 You may file the documents at any of the locations listed above; however, your hearing may be scheduled at a different court facility. What: Give the Clerk of Superior Court originals of the following documents to file: • Adult Adoption Cover Sheet, • Agreement of Adoption and Petition for Decree of Adoption of an Adult, and • (if applicable) Consent to Adult Adoption and Waiver of Notice © Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County PBAA10p 062521 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 2 of 4 Provide the Clerk with the copies of the Agreement of Adoption and Petition for Decree of Adoption of an Adult and, if applicable, the Consent to Adult Adoption and Waiver of Notice and ask the Clerk to stamp those copies and return them to you (tell the Clerk you would like “conformed copies”). Fees: When you file the documents, the Clerk of Superior Court will charge you certain fees that are required by Arizona law. You may pay those fees by cash, credit card, or money order. If you cannot afford the fees, you may request a deferral (payment plan) or waiver of the fees. Deferral and waiver applications are available at no charge from the Law Library Resource Center. A list of current fees is available from the Clerk of Superior Court’s website. STEP 5. Gather Documents Before Obtaining a Hearing Date: Before obtaining a hearing date, gather the following documents, which you need to bring with you when you request your hearing date: • Information Sheet to the Court Investigator (1 original—do not file this document with the Clerk) • Agreement of Adoption and Petition for Decree of Adoption of an Adult (2 copies) • (if applicable) Consent to Adult Adoption and Waiver of Notice (2 copies) • Photocopy (not certified copy) of the Adoptee’s birth certificate (do not file this document with the Clerk). (Note: You will be required to bring a certified copy of the Adoptee’s birth certificate to your hearing, as stated in STEP 8.) STEP 6. Obtaining a Hearing Date: A. Provide all of the documents listed in STEP 5 to Probate Court Administration at any of the following locations and ask for a hearing date: • Downtown Phoenix Court Complex—Go to the Probate Court Administration window on the 3 rd floor of the East Court Building, 101 West Jefferson in Phoenix. • Northeast Regional Court Facility, 18380 North 40 th Street in Phoenix— the Clerk of Superior Court will either contact Probate Court Administration for you or will provide you with further instructions on how to contact Probate Court Administration. • Southeast Regional Court Facility—Go to the Court Administration Office at the west end of the 1 st floor at 222 East Javelina in Mesa. • Northwest Regional Court Facility—Go to the Court Administration window, directly across from the Clerk of Superior Court filing counter at 14264 West Tierra Buena Lane in Surprise. © Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County PBAA10p 062521 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 3 of 4 B. If you are at any one of the Regional Court Facilities (Northeast, Southeast, or Northwest) and Probate Court Administration is not available to assist you, you can do either of the following: • Bring your documents to the Downtown Phoenix Court Complex, East Court Building, 101 West Jefferson in Phoenix, 3 rd floor, present your documents, and obtain a hearing date, OR • Wait 2 to 3 business days after completing STEP 4 (File Documents with the Clerk of Superior Court) and then call 602-506-5510 to obtain a hearing date. The 2 to 3 business days allows time for the Clerk to process and scan your filings so that Probate Court Administration can view your documents. Probate Court Administration will e-mail you an English version and a Spanish version of a Notice of Initial Hearing Regarding: Agreement for Adoption and Petition for Decree of Adoption of an Adult (the “Notice of Hearing”). It will contain the date, time, and location of the hearing, as well as the name of the Judicial Officer (judge or commissioner) assigned to your case and instructions as to how any interested person who wishes to object to the proposed adoption may do so. If you would like printed copies of the Notice of Hearing, you may request them when you ask for the hearing date. Do not lose the Notice of Hearing. The hearing likely will be scheduled approximately 6 to 8 weeks from the date you submit your request. STEP 7. Provide Notice of the Hearing: If the Court requires you to give notice of the hearing to one or more persons, you must do so by sending the person(s) entitled to notice a copy of both the Agreement of Adoption and Petition for Decree of Adoption of an Adult and the Notice of Hearing. Unless the Court tells you differently, you may send those documents to the person by any of the following methods at least 14 calendar days before the hearing date: • Personal service (using a process server, Sheriff’s deputy, or constable) • 1st class mail, postage prepaid • Certified mail, with or without return receipt • Hand-delivery After sending the documents, complete the Proof of Notice (Form PBAA15f) and file it with the Clerk of Superior Court at least 7 calendar days before the hearing. STEP 8. Cooperate with the Court Investigator: Prior to the hearing date, the Court Investigator will contact the Adopter and the Adoptee and, possibly, other persons. The investigator will then file with the © Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County PBAA10p 062521 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 4 of 4 Court a written report regarding the welfare, competency, and best interests of the Adopter, the Adoptee, and the public. A.R.S. § 14-8101(D). To avoid any unnecessary delays with your case, be sure to cooperate with the Court Investigator and provide that person with any requested information and documentation. STEP 9. Attend the Hearing: NOTE: Arizona law requires that the adult being adopted (Adoptee) and the person adopting that adult (Adopter) must attend the hearing in person. The only exception is that an attorney may appear on behalf of the Adoptee or the Adopter if the Adoptee or Adopter is unable to attend the hearing in person and the attorney has that person’s written authorization. A.R.S. § 14-8101(D). Bring These Documents to Your Hearing: • 2 copies of Approval of Agreement of Adoption and Decree of Adoption of an Adult for the Judicial Officer to sign. One copy will be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court and the other will be prepared for certification and returned to you. o There is a court fee for each certified copy. * • Government-issued photo identification for the Adopter and Adoptee (e.g., driver license, state-issued identification card, passport, etc.). • Certified copy of the Adoptee’s birth certificate. Note: If the Court has ordered that the name on the Adoptee’s Arizona birth records be changed, you will need to provide the “Office of Vital Records” with a certified copy of the “Approval of Agreement of Adoption and Decree of Adoption of an Adult.” You may purchase a new birth certificate at the Office of Vital Records for a fee. *To obtain a certified copy of your court order you will need to present your Judge-signed copy to the Clerk of Superior Court’s filing counter within 48 hours after your hearing. If you need additional copies after that time, you will need to go to the Court’s Customer Service Center at 601 W. Jackson Street in Phoenix. The State of Arizona Vital Records Office at 1818 W. Adams, Phoenix, AZ. 85007, is only available for mail-in service. Vital Records’ general telephone number is 602-364-1300. Please call for another walk-in location. A fee is required for a change to any birth certificate.