Ohio's Adoption Laws

• Adoption Records
• Consent To Adoption
• Parties To An Adoption
• Birth Father Statutes
• Adoption Expenses
• International Expenses
• General Adoption Statutes

Adoption Records

Ohio

Statute: § 2151.421(H)(1),(2)

Records Confidential: Yes

Persons with access to records

Not addressed in statutes reviewed.

Persons without access to records

• CPS/State Agencies

• Agencies From Other States

• Courts/Judges

• Grand Juries

• Law Enforcement

• Attorneys General/Prosecutors

• Attorneys, GAL's

• Physicians

• Reporters of Abuse

• Researchers

• Employers

• Parents/Guardians

• Coroners

• Review Teams

• Treatment Providers

• Subject of Reports

• Public/Any Person

Other The report shall only be disclosed as evidence in a criminal proceeding, in accordance with the Rules of Evidence, and subject to discovery in accordance with the Rules of Criminal Procedure.

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Consent to Adoption

The consent may be signed 72 hours after the birth of the child.

Pre-consents are not allowed in the state of Ohio.

Revocation Time Frame in Ohio

The consent is irrevocable upon signing.

Parties to an Adoption

Ohio

• A husband and wife together, at least one of whom is an adult

• An unmarried adult or a married person singly if legally separated

• An unmarried minor parent

• A stepparent

• Any minor

• An adult if he is:

o Totally and permanently disabled

o Mentally retarded

o A stepchild or foster child and the relationship was established while the person was still a minor

All adoptions must be arranged by an agency or an attorney.

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Birth Father Statutes

No information currently available.

Adoption Expenses

Ohio

1. • Physician, hospital, or other medical facility costs
2. • Attorney's fees and court costs
3. • Temporary maintenance and medical care, or foster care for the child
4. • Guardian ad litem fees

1. • Any expense not expressly permitted by the statute
2. • Any expense that the court finds unreasonable

No person, agency, or attorney shall make any disbursements in connection with the surrender, placement, or adoption other than those specified by law.

 No person shall make any disbursements in connection with the surrender of a child other than those specified by law.

Application fee and expenses incurred for conducting a home study and other investigations required by statute are permitted.

Accounting of Expenses Required by Court Statute: § 3107.10(B)

1. • The agency or attorney that arranged the adoption shall file a preliminary accounting no later than the filing of petition for adoption.
2. • A final accounting must be made before the final decree, specifying all disbursements made or agreed to be made.
3. • A final decree will not be issued until at least 10 days after the accounting has been filed.

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

International Expenses

No information currently available.

General Adoption Statutes

Ohio

1. • Department of Health
2. • Child placement agency
3. • Assessor as defined in § 3107.014

1. • Attitude toward adoption
2. • Physical, mental, developmental condition
3. • Present and anticipated needs
4. • Psychological background, including any prior abuse
5. • Determination of Indian heritage

1. • Identifying data
2. • Social history, including age, ethnic, racial, religious, marital, and physical characteristics
3. • Educational, cultural, and work background
4. • Medical history including major diseases, health problems, allergies, and ear or eye defects
5. • Reasons for placing child for adoption

1. • Suitability to adopt
2. • Other information and documents as per department regulation

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

If you are an adoption professional and have updated information for this portion of our site let us know by contacting us at 1-800-ADOPTION or e-mail us at editors@americanadoptions.com.