Adoption Process in Ohio

The following outline summarizes the legal process of adoptive placement in our agency.  Of course, each circumstance differs; therefore, the steps outlined below may occur in a different order depending upon the particular circumstances of the placement.

Prior to Birth

Completion by birth parents of Social/Medical History Form (1616) and Ohio Law and Adoption Materials Form (1693)

Social/Medical History provided to prospective adoptive parents for review and acceptance. (This may occur before or after profiles are provided to birth parents depending on circumstances.)

Birth parents select adoptive family from 3-5 profiles. One or more meetings between birth parents and adoptive parents may occur if requested by birth parents.

After Birth

On the second day after birth, the birth mother signs the Temporary Custody Form (1645) giving the agency temporary custody of the baby and leaves hospital (assuming birth was not a cesarean).

At 72 hours after birth, the agency administrator goes to the birth parents’ homes and birth parents sign Permanent Surrenders (1666).

Immediately after the Permanent Surrenders are signed, the Adoptive parents meet the agency administrator at the hospital to sign the adoptive placement papers. The baby is discharged from the hospital and goes home with the adoptive parents.

An agency assessor calls the adoptive family within 4 days of placement and visits their home within 7 days of placement. The assessor visits the adoptive parents’ home every 30 days until finalization is completed (state law requirements).

Medicaid application is filed by the agency for baby’s hospital costs the day after placement. The Permanent Surrenders are faxed to the Juvenile Court on the first business day after placement.

A Putative Father Registry search request is filed 30 days after the date of birth and a response is received in approximately 4 weeks.

Four months after placement, the adoptive family hires an attorney to file the Petition to Adopt (finalization process). Finalization may occur as soon as 6 months after placement. The agency provides attorney with all necessary documentation for finalization.

The federal adoption tax credit may be claimed in the calendar year of finalization. Please contact your accountant for information regarding this credit.