Child Adoption Law in Ohio: Grandparent and Step Parent Adoptions

A person seeking to adopt a minor shall utilize an agency or attorney to arrange the adoption. An attorney may not represent with regard to the adoption both the person seeking to adopt and the parent placing a child for adoption.
Any person may informally aid or promote an adoption by making a person seeking to adopt a minor aware of a minor who will be or is available for adoption.

Assessor to conduct home study.

Contents of Petition - Form ePC-A-18.0 from the Franklin County Probate Court.

Preliminary estimate and final accounting - summary of proceedings. Living expenses paid to a birth mother may not exceed $3000. Living expenses must be paid directly to the provider whenever possible, instead of to birth parents. Form ePC-A-18.9A from the Franklin County Probate Court.

Consent to adoption must be obtained from mother, father, any "putative" father, any person or agency having permanent custody of the minor, and the minor if more than twelve years of age. Form ePC-A-18.3 from the Franklin County Probate Court.

A man who has sexual intercourse with a woman is on notice that if a child is born as a result, the child may be adopted without his consent pursuant to division (B) of section 3107.07 of the Revised Code.

Putative father registry. Father must register no later than 15 days after the baby's birth in order to preserve his rights.

Consent of putative father is unnecessary if he fails to register with the putative father registry.

Conditions for accepting parent's consent. parent of a minor, when it is alleged in the adoption petition and the court, after proper service of notice and hearing, finds by clear and convincing evidence that the parent has failed without justifiable cause to provide more than de minimis contact with the minor or to provide for the maintenance and support of the minor as required by law or judicial decree for a period of at least one year immediately preceding either the filing of the adoption petition or the placement of the minor in the home of the petitioner.

(A) After the filing of a petition to adopt an adult or a minor, the court shall fix a time and place for hearing the petition. The hearing may take place at any time more than thirty days after the date on which the minor is placed in the home of the petitioner. At least twenty days before the date of hearing, notice of the filing of the petition and of the time and place of hearing shall be given by the court to all of the following:
(1) Any juvenile court, agency, or person whose consent to the adoption is required by this chapter but who has not consented;
(2) A person whose consent is not required as provided by division (A), (G), (H), or (I) of section 3107.07 of the Revised Code and has not consented;
(3) Any guardian, custodian, or other party who has temporary custody or permanent custody of the child.

Contents of custody affidavit. Form ePC-A-18.P3 in Franklin County Probate Court.

Six month waiting period prior to finality of adoption.

Court will grant adoption if it finds that the required consents have been obtained or excused and that the adoption is in the child's best interest.

Determining best interest of child in contested adoption - factors to consider

From Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Services

from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

from the Ohio State Bar Association.

Building Blocks Adoption is licensed by the State of Ohio to participate in the placement of children. We are able to complete your homestudy, provide pre-and post-adoption services and attend any court mandated appearances.