Adoptions

• A married couple jointly
• A step-parent
• A single adult

• A minor child
• An adult person determined to be totally and permanently disabled or mentally retarded
• An adult may adopt another adult provided a parent-child relationship existed during the adoptee’s minority.

• Agency Adoptions: When an agency licensed by the State of Ohio originates and handles the adoption process, Probate Court involvement is limited to the final stages of adoption. It is the agency who approves the placement, conducts the home study, and recommends the adoption to the Court. Adoption agencies have trained, professional staff and use legal counsel to insure that adoptions are legally, effectively, and efficiently handled.
• Independent Adoptions: In this instance, a licensed adoption agency is not involved. It is generally handled by a private attorney working directly with the Court. On occasion, the child may be related to persons seeking to adopt, such as a grandchild, niece, nephew, etc. Other times, there is no relationship between the child to be adopted and those adopting.
• Step-Parent Adoptions: The person seeking to adopt is either a step-father or step-mother. The parent whose right is being terminated must consent unless his or her consent is not required.
• Interstate Adoptions: When a child is born in one state and the adopting parents are residents of another state, both States’ Departments of Human Services must be involved through the Interstate Compact. The Probate Court will supervise these proceedings.
• Foreign Adoptions: If an Ohio family adopts a child born in another country, the adoption is considered a Foreign Adoption. Adoption may occur in the country of birth or in Ohio. All foreign adoptions must be processed through the U.S. Department of Immigration and Naturalization.

The parents of the child to be adopted, a minor being adopted who is over the age of 12 years, and an adult adoptee must consent to adoption. However, under certain circumstances, consent may be waived. Therefore, questions concerning consent should be directed to an agency or attorney.

An unwed father, known as a putative father, may preserve his rights to consent to an adoption of a child born after January 1, 1997, by registering with the Ohio Department of Human Services, Putative Father Registry. Registration must occur either prior to birth or no later than thirty days after birth. As to the rights of a putative father prior to January 1, 1997, contact an agency or attorney.

The address of the the Putative Father Registry is:

Ohio Putative Father Registry

30 E. Broad Street, Floor 31

Columbus, OH 43266-0423

As an alternative to a traditional closed adoption where identities are not disclosed, an open adoption occurs when both the natural and adopting parents, prior to the adoption, voluntarily disclose their identities to each other. Open adoption law applies only to non-relative adoptions, and may involve a non-binding agreement for contact between the adopted child and the natural parent(s). However, all parental control of the adopted child remains with the adopting parents.

For more information on open adoptions, contact an agency or attorney.

Since the Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over Adoptions, you are required to file in the Probate Court of the County where any one of the following apply:

• The agency having custody of the child is located.
• The child was born.
• The person or persons seeking to adopt reside.
• The person seeking to adopt is stationed in military service.
• In an independent placement: where the natural parent resides.

Yes. Regardless of the type of adoption, a home study is required. An individual known as an assessor, who is qualified and trained for the task, will complete the home study.

Yes, only an attorney or agency may arrange an adoption.

Yes. It is mandatory, whether adopting through an agency, or independently, that the person adopting and the child or children sought to be adopted appear before the Probate Court for the final hearing. In certain circumstances, there may be other appearances required. Any exceptions can only be granted by the Court for good cause shown.

Yes. The original birth certificate will be sealed and a new birth certificate issued. The adopting parent or parents will be reflected on the birth certificate, just as though they had been the biological parents.

Adopted children born in Ohio or a foreign country, receive their new birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

The address of the Bureau of Vital Statistics is:

Bureau of Vital Statistics
Ohio Department of Health 
35 E. Chestnut St., 6th Floor
P.O. Box 15098
Columbus, OH 43215-0098

Children adopted in Ohio, but born in other states, obtain their new birth certificates from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in the state where they were born.

Adoption files are confidential, and closed to the public. The adoptee or adopting parents, however, may obtain the following information:

1. Medical information: Generally, all adoption records are open for the purpose of obtaining the medical background of biological parents. The Probate Court or agency involved in the adoption should be contacted for that information.

• There are no court costs for requesting medical information and the procedure is very simple. Any adoptee who desires medical information, must submit (1) a written request to the Probate Court, along with (2) a copy of his/her birth certificate, (3) a copy of a state issued photo ID and (4) a stamped self-addressed envelope. The written request should provide as much identifying information as possible so that the court can locate the appropriate file.

• The mailing address for the Stark County Probate Court is:
  • Stark County Probate Court
  • 110 Central Plaza South - Suite 501
  • Canton, Ohio 44702-1413

2. Identifying Information - Biological Parents:

• Prior to 1964:
• Copies of the original birth certificate may be obtained from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• 1964-1996: 
• SB 23, recently passed by the Ohio legislature and signed by Governor Kasich, provides that Ohio adoptees adopted between January 1, 1964 and September 18, 1996 and who is at least 18 years of age submits his or her request for adoption records directly to the Ohio Department of Health. The adoption records are then released to the applicant directly from the Ohio Department of Health. The Ohio Department of Health can be reached at (614) 466-2531.1996 to date: 
• Since 9-18-96, adoption records are open unless the biological parent(s) have requested that identifying information be withheld. The State Bureau of Vital Statistics should be contacted.
• Link to the Ohio Department of Health: Bureau of Vital Statistics

3.  Adoption File Information Link - Ohio Department of Health