Gay marriage legal in arizona
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The legality was further solidified by a subsequent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, ensuring that same-sex couples possess the right to marry throughout the entire country.
The Legal Journey to Marriage Equality
The path to marriage equality in Arizona involved state-specific legal actions and a federal decision. When Arizona’s Attorney General Horne announced quickly thereafter that he would not appeal that ruling, same-sex marriage immediately became legal throughout the state.
In 2015, same-sex marriage became legal across the country as a result of a Supreme Court ruling legalizing such marriages in all fifty states.
According to the Arizona Capitol Times, in the week following the legalization of same-sex marriage in Arizona, all fifteen counties in the state issued marriage licenses to at least one same-sex couple.
All couples looking to get married, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, can obtain a marriage license in Arizona if they are 18 years old or older, provide sufficient identification, and pay the license fee.
Same-Sex Marriage in Arizona
Same-sex-marriage has been legal in the state of Arizona since 2014. Understanding the current legal framework for marriage is important for individuals navigating their rights and responsibilities. This license remains valid for 12 months from its issuance date, and the marriage ceremony must occur within this period.
While Arizona’s prior bans remain in state law, they are unenforceable due to the Obergefell decision.
Rights and Responsibilities of Married Same-Sex Couples in Arizona
Married same-sex couples in Arizona hold the same rights, benefits, and responsibilities under state law as heterosexual married couples.
Following this, U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick ruled that Arizona’s amendment to ban same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. After you marry, you can either adopt jointly or complete a stepparent adoption.
If you are a single person who wants to adopt, you can do so in the same way that straight single people can adopt children.
Before the nationwide ruling, Arizona had statutory and constitutional bans on same-sex marriage, enacted in 1996 and 2008. In October 2014, federal court decisions in cases like Connolly v. Some adoption professionals refuse to work with same-sex couples.
At the Law Office of Daniel Hutto, we are happy to help LGBTQ married couples as they go through the adoption process to build their families.
Stepparent Adoptions for Same-Sex Couples
If you have married someone who already had a child, you can become a legal parent of the child through stepparent adoption.
Rideout Law Group’s guide to marriage licenses in each Arizona county can be found here.
Rideout Law Group handles cases throughout the entire state of Arizona, with offices located in Scottsdale and Lake Havasu City.
Couples should look into the requirements for the county in which they reside for specific guidelines. You must be over the age of 18, complete an adoption home study, pass background clearances, and prove that you are capable of caring for a child.
If you can pass these requirements above, you should be able to adopt a child on your own, regardless of your sexual orientation or identity.
Is Same-Sex Marriage Legal in Arizona?
Marriage equality has been a significant legal and social development across the United States, reshaping the landscape of family law.
An attorney at the Law Office of Daniel Hutto can explain this process to you.
If your spouse adopted the child on his or her own, the process for completing a stepparent adoption will be the same as it is for heterosexual couples. If you want to adopt a child jointly as a couple, you will need to marry. Requirements and fees vary slightly by county, with some courthouses recommending scheduling an appointment time.
You will need to be married for a minimum of one year and have lived with the child for a minimum of six months to avoid a social study during the adoption process.
Adopting a Child as a Single Person or as an Unmarried Couple
Unmarried couples in Arizona cannot jointly adopt a child.
For a free consultation, call 480-584-3328.
Same-sex Parent Adoption / Gay Adoption
There are several ways that you can build your family through a same-sex parent adoption in Arizona. Jeanes and Majors v. The process that you should choose will depend on the circumstances of your particular situation.
Since the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v.