A Guide to Ohio Adoption Laws

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and living in Ohio, you may be considering adoption. Adoption is a positive and loving choice, but it can also be challenging to navigate alone. What are the adoption laws in Ohio, and how will they impact your adoption journey? A reputable adoption agency can help guide you through the process of how adoption works in Ohio.

Before diving into the specific adoption laws in Ohio, there are a few things you, as an expectant/birth mother, should know: Adoption laws vary by state. Understanding these state-specific laws can be confusing. The good news is, we can help.

As a private, non-profit, national adoption agency, Adoptions With Love works with expectant/birth mothers in every state. We have been providing caring support to expectant parents since 1986 and are dedicated to making the adoption journey as easy as possible. We offer expectant/birth parents free legal services to make sure the adoption process is seamless. Our adoption attorneys in Ohio are familiar with Ohio’s private adoption laws. They can keep you informed of your rights and answer any questions you may have about adoption.

Please note, this guide is not intended to be considered legal advice. The following information will give you an overview of the adoption laws in Ohio that you need to know.

Information About Ohio Adoption Laws

Adoption laws in Ohio can be complicated. The best resource available to you is an adoption agency. This professional needs to be licensed in Ohio. It should also have a strong reputation and years of experience working with expectant/birth parents. Once you have chosen an Ohio adoption agency, you can begin to learn more about the adoption journey ahead. You may have many questions about adoption laws in Ohio. Read on. The following can help give you a solid start in understanding the adoption process.

Who Can Adopt in Ohio?

According to Ohio adoption laws, any adult can pursue adoption if they meet the home study and the requirements set by adoption professionals. One of those requirements includes the Home Study, which is a several-month-long process that includes background checks, multiple home visits and interviews, and the examination of medical, professional, and financial records. This ensures that your child is going to a home that is safe, stable, and healthy.

Connect With An Ohio Adoption Professional

Home Study Process

The Home Study is a requirement under Ohio adoption laws. This process is completed by prospective adoptive parents and overseen by the adoption agency involved. It takes several months to complete. The Home Study involves the following:

• Initial screenings
• Criminal background checks
• Multiple at-home visits
• Multiple at-home interviews of each person in the household
• The review of important documents, including medical and financial records

This thorough process ensures that each child is placed in a home that is safe, stable, and healthy. The Home Study gives expectant/birth parents peace of mind. With the Home Study, you can rest assured that your child will be placed in a secure and loving home.

Most adoption agencies have their own set of additional requirements, such as age and living standards. Contact your adoption agency to learn more about their requirements.

Working with an Agency or Attorney

According to Ohio adoption laws, most adoptions must involve either a licensed agency or an attorney. This helps expectant/birth parents navigate the legal process. Adoption attorneys are essential for completing the legal aspects of the adoption, such as handling consent forms and ensuring a smooth and successful visit to probate court. Most private adoption agencies – such as Adoptions With Love – automatically offer adoption attorney services to expectant/birth parents. This service, like all services, is completely free for expectant/birth parents.

Consent

According to Ohio adoption laws, a child is only eligible for adoption once their birth parents have signed their consent to terminate parental rights. This paperwork must be signed in front of a lawyer or licensed notary. In Ohio, a birth mother can only sign the consent forms a minimum of 72 hours (about 3 days) after the baby is born.

This gives you time to get to know your baby and make sure you are confident in your decision. At Adoptions With Love, we encourage birth mothers to take all the time they need before making their decision. It is never too late to make an adoption plan. An adoption attorney can meet you wherever you are – at the hospital, or at home – when you decide you are ready to sign consent forms for adoption.

What are Birth Mother Rights?

It is important to understand your rights as a birth parent. Aside from the 72-hour delay in signing consent forms, Adoption laws in Ohio grant birth mothers the right to:

• Choose the adoptive family
• Choose the type of adoption – such as open, semi-open, and closed adoption.
• Financial assistance. You may Receive up to $6,000 in approved living expenses.
• Legal representation
• If desired, a birth mother can sign a form indicating no contact with their child until the child turns 18.

With the support of your adoption agency, you can rest assured you will always be informed when it comes to your rights as an expectant/birth mother.

Types of Adoption in Ohio

At Adoptions With Love, all hopeful adoptive parents typically agree to a semi-open or open adoption. This means there is ongoing communication between birth and adoptive parents. Open adoption offers many benefits for all involved in the adoption, including birth mothers. Many take comfort in the fact that they will not have to say “goodbye forever” to their child. Open adoption keeps the door open for communication – and in-person reunions – in the future.

Private

This is the most common type of adoption agency that expectant/birth parents choose for their baby’s adoption. This professional is licensed within designated states and can oversee every aspect of the adoption process. Private adoption is also a popular choice for adoptive families looking to adopt a baby or toddler, as many children placed in private adoption are placed at birth or shortly thereafter.

Foster-to-Adopt

Foster care is a state-run system that handles the temporary and permanent placement of children in need of homes. This can be a positive path for adoptive families looking to adopt a child in a very inexpensive way. Children placed in foster care have been removed from their birth parents’ homes, typically due to a crisis or unsafe environment. Foster care is not a choice made by an expectant/birth mother.

Stepparent

This type of adoption happens when a child’s parent marries, and the spouse adopts the child. This requires the consent of the other biological parent or court termination of their rights due to abandonment or unfit status.

Who Can Be Adopted in Ohio?

Anyone underage – and some adults – may be adopted in the State of Ohio. Children ages 12 and older must consent to the adoption.

Ohio’s Family Court must determine that adoption is the best option for the adult or child being adopted. Consent must be given by the birth mother if it is a voluntary adoption plan.

What About Ohio Birth Parent Expenses?

Pregnancy is an overwhelming, life-changing experience. It can also be costly. You may need to take extra time out of work, buy maternity clothes, and change your diet. When a pregnant person chooses adoption in Ohio, she is eligible for assistance for certain expenses.

While services and expenses may be covered by an adoption agency, expectant/birth mothers should not receive cash or checks for their adoption. Any type of payment, such as money, gifts, or favors, in exchange for placing a child for adoption is illegal in Ohio.

The compensated services, however, can make a world of difference. They can help alleviate the financial burden that an unplanned pregnancy can bring.

The State of Ohio regulates birth parent expenses. The following are considered permissible birth parent expenses related to adoption planning:

• Counseling services
• Legal services
• Living expenses, as needed
• Medical coverage

Adoptions With Love covers these expenses – and more – for expectant/birth parents who choose adoption.

Recent Legal Changes

The Adoption Modernization Act went into effect on March 20, 2025. The bill works to streamline the Ohio adoption process. The new law modifies requirements surrounding consent, termination of parental rights, and best interest determinations in adoption proceedings.

According to the Ohio House of Representatives, the new law:

• Increases financial support for expecting mothers who plan to place their child up for adoption, supporting the health and wellbeing of the mother and child.
• Expedites kinship care by allowing time spent in the home of a family member to be counted towards the six-month waiting period before adoption. This language mirrors current Ohio law for foster to adopt scenarios.
• Clarifies the Ohio Revised Code to help streamline the adoption process.
• Includes additional safeguards and protections to ensure the safety of adopted children.

Learn More About Adoption Laws in Ohio

Adoption can be a complicated process, which is why it is so important to have an experienced, reputable adoption agency by your side. Whether you just learned of your pregnancy or you have already given birth, you can get more information to make an informed decision regarding your future.

Adoptions With Love can answer any questions you may have about Ohio private adoption or the state’s laws – no strings attached. We can help guide you and give you the information you need, free of obligation. There are never any fees for expectant/birth mothers who choose to place their child for adoption.

Contact Adoptions With Love today to feel empowered in this pregnancy as you consider adoption in Ohio. Call us any time you need assistance at 617-964-4357, text us confidentially at 617-777-0072, or contact us online.