A legal proceeding has been initiated in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, concerning the adoption of a minor child and the termination of parental rights. The Second Judicial District Court has received a verified petition for step-parent adoption involving Amari Jolee Ballejos-Molina, born April 17, 2012, in Bernalillo County.

Joe Molina, identified as the biological father of Amari Jolee Ballejos-Molina, has been formally notified of the petition. He has been given 20 days from the date of the notice to file a written response opposing the adoption. The petition seeks to terminate his parental rights as part of the adoption process.

If Molina does not respond within the specified period, the court will likely grant the petition by default. This would mean his consent to the adoption would not be required, and his parental rights could be terminated without further input from him.

The petition was filed by a representative of PEAK LEGAL GROUP, LLC, with attorney Sheryl L. Saavedra acting on behalf of the petitioner. The notice was issued by the District Court Clerk’s Office, with Carla Garcia serving as the deputy clerk.

The public notice was published on April 30, May 7, and May 14, 2026, to ensure the biological father's awareness of the pending adoption case filed in the Children’s Division of the Second Judicial District Court.