Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-536 (2026)

Social study before disposition; contents

✓ current as of May 2026

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A. On the filing of a petition, the court shall order that the department, an agency or another person selected by the court conduct or cause to be conducted a complete social study and that a report in writing of such study be submitted to the court before a hearing. The court may order any additional social study it deems necessary. The social study shall include the circumstances of the petition, the social history, the present condition of the child and parent, proposed plans for the child and other facts pertinent to the parent-child relationship. The report submitted shall include a specific recommendation and the reasons as to whether or not the parent-child relationship should be terminated.

B. If the proposed plans for the child do not include placing the child with a grandparent or another member of the child's extended family including a person who has a significant relationship with the child, the report shall include sufficient information for the court to determine whether such placement is in the child's best interests.

C. The court may waive the requirement of the social study if the court finds that to do so is in the best interest of the child.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 29 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1975–2025 · leading case: In Re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty., Juv. Action Nos. A-23498 & JS-2201, 584 P.2d 63 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1978).

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In Re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty., Juv. Action Nos. A-23498 & JS-2201, 584 P.2d 63 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 12× “At the time of the hearing in this matter and to facilitate the consolidation of the two petitions, sufficient time was not available to prepare a social study required by A.R.S. § 8-536. This procedure was acquiesced in by the Adams through their then counsel.”

In Re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty. Juv. Action No. JS-501904, 884 P.2d 234 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2× “section 8-536 requires the court to order a social study report, addressing the “circumstances of the petition, the social history, the present condition of the child and parent, proposed plans for the child, and such other facts as may be pertinent to the parent-child…”

In Re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty. Juv. Action No. JS-500274, 804 P.2d 730 (Ariz. 1990). · cites it 2× “Pursuant to A.R.S. § 8-536, the trial court appointed a caseworker, Sue L.”

Jade K. v. Loraine K. & A.K., 380 P.3d 111 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “that day was from Heather Armstrong, the social worker who prepared the social study report required by A.R.S. § 8-536. She opined that Jade had neglected A.”

Christy C. v. Arizona Dep't of Econ. Sec., 153 P.3d 1074 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007). “Rule 66(E) of the Arizona Rules of Procedure for Juvenile Court states that "[a] social study prepared pursuant to A.R.S. 8-536 or by order of the court is admissible as evidence unless a party has filed a notice of objection as required by Rule 44(B)(2)(e) and (D)(2).”

In Re the Appeal in Pima Cnty., Juv. Action No. S-139, 555 P.2d 892 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 4× “A.R.S. § 8-536 provides: “A. Upon the filing of a petition the court shall order that the division, an agency or another person selected by the court conduct or cause to be conducted a complete social study and that a report in writing of such study be submitted to the court…”

In Re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty., Juv. Action No. JS-734, 543 P.2d 454 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1975). · cites it 2× “In addition, and not previously discussed, the trial judge had available to him a social study report made after investigation pursuant to A.R.S. § 8-536. After a thorough consideration of the record, we find the evidence sufficient to support the trial judge’s finding that the…”

In Re the Appeal in Pima Cnty. Juv. Severance Action No. S-113432, 872 P.2d 1240 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “In light of the children’s apparent indigency, we also find that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering them to pay a portion of the social study prepared pursuant to A.R.S. § 8-536. CONCLUSION The juvenile court’s order severing the father’s parental rights to the…”

In Re the Appeal in Pima Cnty. Juv. Severance Action No. S-2710, 790 P.2d 307 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 2× “SOCIAL STUDY The father also argues that the trial court erred in not ordering a social study in accordance with A.R.S. § 8-536(A). In that regard, the trial court found as follows: It should be noted that no social study was filed in this case.”

Lourdes R. v. Robert O., A.O. (Ariz. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 8× “¶12 Here, the juvenile court erred by not ordering the social study to be completed and the written report submitted prior to the hearing, as required by A.R.S. § 8-536. The court did not waive the social study; thus, it was obligated to order that a study be conducted and the…”

Monica v. v. Dcs (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 7× “Failure to Order a Social Study ¶20 Mother also argues the juvenile court erred in failing to order a social study as required by A.R.S. § 8-536. Section 8-536 requires a social study “[o]n the filing of a petition.”

Arizona Dep't of Econ. Sec. v. Superior Court, 891 P.2d 936 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1994). “For the foregoing reasons, we accept jurisdiction and deny relief. CONTRERAS, P.J., and TOCI, J.”

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— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-536(A) — 14 cases

In Re the Appeal in Pima Cnty. Juv. Severance Action No. S-2710, 790 P.2d 307 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1990). “SOCIAL STUDY The father also argues that the trial court erred in not ordering a social study in accordance with A.R.S. § 8-536(A). In that regard, the trial court found as follows: It should be noted that no social study was filed in this case.”

Arizona Dep't of Econ. Sec. v. Superior Court, 891 P.2d 936 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1994). “For the foregoing reasons, we accept jurisdiction and deny relief. CONTRERAS, P.J., and TOCI, J.”

In re the Appeal in Cochise Cnty. Juv. Dependency Action Nos. SV89-00023 & DP8900018, 793 P.2d 566 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1990).

Lourdes R. v. Robert O., A.O. (Ariz. Ct. App. 2019). “¶12 Here, the juvenile court erred by not ordering the social study to be completed and the written report submitted prior to the hearing, as required by A.R.S. § 8-536. The court did not waive the social study; thus, it was obligated to order that a study be conducted and the…”

In re the Appeal in Pima Cnty. Severance Action No. S-1607, 708 P.2d 769 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1985).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-536(B) — 2 cases

In Re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty., Juv. Action Nos. A-23498 & JS-2201, 584 P.2d 63 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1978). “At the time of the hearing in this matter and to facilitate the consolidation of the two petitions, sufficient time was not available to prepare a social study required by A.R.S. § 8-536. This procedure was acquiesced in by the Adams through their then counsel.”

In re the Appeal in Pima Cnty. Severance Action No. S-1607, 708 P.2d 769 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1985).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-536(C) — 5 cases

Monica v. v. Dcs (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018). “Failure to Order a Social Study ¶20 Mother also argues the juvenile court erred in failing to order a social study as required by A.R.S. § 8-536. Section 8-536 requires a social study “[o]n the filing of a petition.”

Ricky G. v. Priscilla G., A.G. (Ariz. Ct. App. 2019).

Emily B., Andrew D. v. Dcs (Ariz. Ct. App. 2020).

In Re Term of Parental Rights as to D.S. (Ariz. Ct. App. 2023).

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