Adult adoptions happen in the Old Courthouse where there are high ceilings, judges sit on raised benches and witnesses still take an oath.
The people swearing to tell the truth on a Wednesday afternoon were a mother, her adult daughter and a man wearing a shirt and necktie in the summer heat. Shaina, the mom, explained why they're there.
“I feel like we’re getting complete, and it would just mean the world to me,” Shaina told the court.
“To have the state recognize you as an official family?” replied Commissioner Lindsay Kunaschk.
“The Goodmans, yes,” said Shaina.
Adult adoptions have been legal in Arizona for more than a century. And Maricopa County saw a slight increase in them during the fiscal year that just ended. KJZZ recently visited probate court to meet people going through the process.
Shaina is a Midwest transplant. About 10 years ago, she was a single mom who followed her own mother south from Wisconsin. She met Heath Goodman online not long after getting here.
“He did send me some generic, ‘Hey how are you?’ at like 4 in the morning, and I was like ugh. I don't normally respond to that. You have to be funny,” Shaina said.
Shaina and Heath fell in love quickly. The first time he met her daughter was for ice cream after school.
“I pretty much knew from the beginning Brook was going to take to him. It's been her and I this whole time. Never really had a guy in her life,” Shaina said.
Brook is short for Brooklynn — now a lifeguard, college student and aspiring nurse. Explaining why her last name is different from her parents was always a long story.
“I no longer have to make things complicated when I say who my dad is,” Brook said
The bond Brook developed with Heath led to questions about his job as a longtime Arizona State Trooper. Brook would ask about injured motorists and other people he encountered.
“But I was always curious to know more. Is the family OK? What (do) the parents think? He never knew. But I would end up getting the final story if I became a nurse. And maybe get to find out a little bit more about if they’re OK,” Brook, 18, said.
Adults in Arizona are eligible for adoption until they turn 22. Older relatives and former foster children can also qualify under certain conditions.
Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioner Lindsay Kunaschk handles between two and four a month. She and her colleagues in Maricopa County finalized more than 200 adult adoptions last fiscal year — a roughly 4% increase.
“It's the absolute best part of my job. It is one of the only times I get to deliver constant good news to people. I very rarely say no to adult adoptions. It is rare that it is not in the best interest of the parties or the public,” Kunaschk said. “It's individuals that have lived as families for a very long time but for whatever reason couldn’t proceed with an adoption.”
Brook calls Heath her dad, but he had to use Google to learn if adoption was possible.
“Before she turned 18, we found out that we could do it. And so on her 18th birthday, we took her to a steakhouse. And I gave her an envelope for her birthday gift that had the adoption paperwork in it,” Heath said.
Heath and Brook also bonded over sports — golf and volleyball especially. He praises her athletic versatility and trustworthiness. And Heath is proud she’s focused on her future.
“When she does bring home a boy, I will do my best to scare the crap out of him the first time we meet. And make sure he is going to shake my hand. Make sure he’s going to come to the door. I want him to treat her with respect,” Heath said.
At the end of the short hearing, Brook is declared the child of Shaina and Heath. Then the Goodmans went to celebrate with ice cream.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify that relatives and former foster children over 22 are eligible for adoption under certain circumstances.
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