Adoption in Ohio is overseen by the Department of Job and Family Services.
Adoption, the surrender of a child, and adoptee's rights are serious issues that have been the subject of several roundtable discussions in Ohio. Ohio adoption laws, which cover aspects of the adoption process from the surrender of the child to the completed adoption by the adoptive parents, are still the subject of heated debate being led by organizations such as Adoption Equity Ohio.
Accessing Adoption Information
Non-identifying adoption information in Ohio is available to 18-year-old adoptees, the adoptive parent if the adoptee is not 18, and the family of a deceased adoptee. The birth parent or sibling who is 18 and the family of the parent if she is deceased may also access non-identifying information. Identifying information may be released to an adoptee who is 21 or older and the adoptive parent of an adoptee if the adoptee is at least 18 years old. It may also be released to the birth parent or the adult birth sibling.
Use of Advertisement
In Ohio, only private child-placing agencies, private certified noncustodial agencies or public children services agency may advertise that it will adopt children, place children in foster homes, hold out an inducement to the birth parent to part with the child or in any other way be a party to the separation of a child from his parents or guardians. The only exception to this rule is if the action comes through a juvenile court or probate court commitment.
Use of Adoption Intermediaries
A person may only arrange for the adoption of a child through an intermediary agency or an attorney, according to Ohio adoption laws. If the arrangement is through an attorney, the attorney may not represent both the adoptive parent and the one placing the child for adoption. Any person, however, may assist informally in the adoption by informing the person who wants to adopt about the child available for adoption.
Consent for an Adoption
For an adoption to take place, consent must be given by the mother; the father (if he was married to the mother when the child was conceived, adopted the child, was determined by a court to be the father, or acknowledged his paternity), the presumed father, any agency with permanent court-authorized custody, and juvenile court that has jurisdiction. Children who are 12 and older must also consent to the adoption.
Parental Consent Not Needed
A parent's consent for adoption is not needed if the parent failed to communicate with or provide support for a child for one year, or a supposed father who failed to register as the child's father within 30 days of the child's birth or willfully abandoned the child. Consent is also not needed from a parent who has entered into a voluntary surrender agreement, one whose rights have been terminated, the father of a child conceived by rape, a parent in a foreign country if the child has been released for adoption in accordance with the laws of the foreign country, and a person given notice who has failed to file an objection within 14 days.
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