Within Ohio, the adoption surrender may be signed 72 hours after birth as long as the Birth Parent Assessment has been completed prior to birth. If not, then the surrender may be signed 72 hours after the completion of the assessment. The surrender is deemed irrevocable after surrender is taken by an Ohio licensed adoption agency. In private adoptions, the surrender becomes irrevocable only after an interlocutory order is received (usually at 30 days) or final decree is issued. If fraud, duress, or misrepresentation is proven, consent can be withdrawn at any time. Return of the child not automatic in Ohio and withdrawal of the consent must be in child’s best interest.

Allowable birth parent expenses may include medical and legal in all adoptions and medical, legal, living and counseling expenses in agency cases. Living expenses are prohibited in private adoptions, unless a court permits. In interstate cases where Ohio is the sending state, rules of receiving state regarding birthparent expenses apply. There is a putative father registry within the state.

Prospective adoptive parents may not advertise in the state. In some courts, out of state adoptive parents may finalize the adoption within the state.

If you are an expecting parent or a prospective adoptive parent, there are several ways to contact