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Ohio Adoption Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: Can I get visitation rights or adopt my girlfriends child?

We have been dating for 5 years (not married). So I’ve been in the child’s life the whole time. The father spent the weekend with the child 5 years ago then went MIA until child support was filed against him last year. This year he was granted visitation rights without even establishing a... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 17, 2020

You cannot get visitation rights. And you cannot adopt unless you marry the mother, and the father might object to that. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to consult a local attorney who handles adoptions.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption for Ohio on
Q: How do I go about my boyfriend adopting my 3 kids without father's consent

My daughter is 5 her father has not been in her life at all. Never contacts me never reaches out to me about her. My son is 2 his father has never reached out to me either never contacts me about my son. I'm currently pregnant and my child's father isn't around and I would like my... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 16, 2020

Yes, you can have him sign the birth certificate. You can adopt without the father's consent only if after applying the father is given proper notice. That he has been out of the child's life with no contact for over a year is a grounds for the stepparent adoption.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Adoption and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: I'd like to adopt my step son. My husband has full custody I've been in his life since he was a yr old hes now almost 8

His biological mother didnt visit him at all in 2019 and has only called and seen him once in 2020 back in march haven't heard from her again. This is very typically of her and it's tough on our son! Am I able to just adopt him since she has very little to no contact with him? How would I... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 16, 2020

You can file with the probate court to adopt. The mother will be notified and she could object. If she has not been ordered to pay child support, then your husband could file to make her start paying. If you adopt, then her child support obligation would terminate. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Adoption for Ohio on
Q: My sister has been in drugs the baby's in the hospital getting winged off. Im trying to get custody of the kid

she is willing going to give me the kid just trying to figure out how i can do tbis legally

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 15, 2020

Contact your local children's protective services office to arrange for temporary custody. Or use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local family law attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: I want my finacè to become my daughters legal father. Bio dad is not involved, help please!

I want my finacè to adopt my daughter and become her legal father. Her father never signed her birth certificate only took a dna test for child support. He may be willing to sign his rights over to my finacè if it is needed. Does he even have any rights to sign over? Do we need to be married? I... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 6, 2020

You and fiancé must marry for him to be able to adopt, and bio father might try to object. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local attorney to assist.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Adoption and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: my boyfriend and his ex have a son together. he is now 15 months old and i have been with him his entire life. help

i have been in his life and primarily the one taking care of him when it is his shared parenting time. my boyfriend and i broke up. the mother wants to sign her rights over to me but still wants the father to have his rights. is this possible?

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 2, 2020

Yes, the father retains his parental rights.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Family Law and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: We are adopting our nieces baby when he is born in November. How do we go about doing this?
Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jun 22, 2020

Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local attorney who handles adoptions to be sure that it is done properly.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Adoption and Child Support for Ohio on
Q: I'm disabled and owed child support. The judge told child support not to pursue the matter any farther.

I signed away my rights so my child could be adopted. But it didn't happen and they came after me for support. I hardly survive on my check. But years later had another child and when we went to court the judge said since I had a child and I was disabled they should not pursue the matter any... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on May 27, 2020

You'll have to try to work it out with the child support enforcement agency. Give them a copy of whatever order the judge signed regarding your child support. But that might not get them to give you the stimulus money if you had arrears.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: I dont want to live with my father any longer and my grandma is okay with taking me in but hes not what do I do
Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on May 14, 2020

If your father does not agree, then there might not be much you can do, unless your father is unfit, abusive, or has substance abuse problems. Parents have control of their children until they reach age 18 and are no longer a minor. It is normal for teens not to like the rules their parents... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Juvenile Law for Ohio on
Q: Hello, my friend is 16 and has a very abusive father and his mom is on drugs. I am 20 years old and want to take him in.

Is there any legal way about somehow getting custody of my friend because he is like my little brother and I wanna see him in a better Situation and I wanna be there for him but I don’t wanna see him in foster care.

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on May 6, 2020

Talk to his parents to find out if they would agree to that, and then talk to children's services about it.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: How do I go from third party custody to adoption?

I have a child that was removed from her home 14 months ago. She has lived with me since. I currently have temporary custody, and the state filed for LC. The next hearing is July.

Cps is not filing for tpr because they do not have custody, only I do. Mother neglected child, has made... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on May 5, 2020

Adoption will be filed through the probate court in Clark county. You will have to get an attorney (required by the local court) and prove what you need to under R.C 3107.07.

You will need to allege and prove the following: The parent has failed without justifiable cause to provide more...
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1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: would my friends dad be allowed to gain guardianship of me if both my parents are dead

My stepmother and i don't get along at all and i don't have any family

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jan 17, 2020

He could try. He would have to file for guardianship in the probate court. Talk to him about it.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: Mother has been listed as abandonment my husband and I want to get full custody which is currently with grandmother

Husband wants to file for full custody of 10 year old son. His biological mother abandoned him almost 7 years ago and paternal grandmother took custody because father was not financially stable at the time. Need to figure out first steps in getting custody back from grandmother when the mother is... View More

Anthony C. Satariano
Anthony C. Satariano
answered on Jan 13, 2020

In Ohio, typically the court that first decides custody rights of a child retains jurisdiction to decide custody matters involving that child going forward. That means, whatever court granted the grandmother custody is likely the court anything you wish to do will need to be filed in. In Ohio,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: Can the biological dad of my child rights be termintated so my husband can adopt child

Biological father hasnt seen or spoken to my child in years and hasnt tried or showed any interest in doing so can his rights be termintated so my husband can adopt my child . My child also has stated they dont want to see there biological father again or speak to biological father ever again. And... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Dec 23, 2019

Yes. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local attorney who does adoption.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: How do can my husband legally adopt my daughter without her biological fathers permission?
Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Dec 17, 2019

It is possible, but it depends on all the facts. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local attorney who handles adoptions who can review the situation and advise you.

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: I want to adopt the child I have permanent Custody of but I don’t know how to start.

I have custody of a friend from high schools 2 children, she is on drugs and I couldn’t let them go into foster Care. I also have 1 child of my own who is 6. I got the first one when he was 4 months old, he is now 3 but has had a relationship with his mom the entire time, she gave birth again to... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Nov 25, 2019

You might not be able to adopt, but you might be able to obtain guardianship. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to talk to a local attorney who specializes in adoptions to review all the facts and advise you.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law and Adoption for Ohio on
Q: I am married but I also pay child support and there is no court order is it legal for her to keep my children from me?

I live in celina ohio my wife currently keeps the kids from me for long periods of time like hides for no reason. She currently moved out of this trailer and her neighbors said a bunch of crazy things about her and what happened when she lived there but any ways. There is No court custody agreement... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jun 24, 2019

If there is no court order for custody, then each married parent has equal rights to the child. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local family law attorney to review your situation and advise you of your options.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Adoption and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: My boyfriend and I have been together 3 years. Shortly after he got guardianship of his sisters 2 boys.

We are not married so my name is not on the paperwork, but for the better half of 3 years I have been their mom. They call me mom. I am the only one who works, he lives off the money the state provides him. I am the one who does 90% of everything for those boys. My boyfriend and I are not working... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jun 19, 2019

Unfortunately, you currently have no legal standing in relation to those boys. If your boyfriend is unfit, you could petition to have him removed as guardian and you be appointed their guardian instead. Otherwise, if you and he separate, he would determine when and if you can continue to spend... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Adoption for Ohio on
Q: My niece is 12, lives with Mom, wants to live with Dad. How old does she have to be to request and get perm? Ohio btw.

Niece is 12 years old, mother had her in highschool, they live in Ohio, father is in Tennessee and they have never been married. He never fought for custody. Niece wants to live with Dad. How old does she have to be to request this and gain permission? Father wants her.

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jun 10, 2019

Niece doesn't get to decide. If a court has not granted father any parental rights, then her mother has sole legal custody, and she gets to make all parental decisions. Father could file for parental rights, and the court would then decide what is in the best interest of the child. Father... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: What ALL has to be done for me to get custody of my kid back after I signed adoption papers over to my parents?

My parents fought for the adoption because I was an ex drug addict and they thought i was still using when i wasnt.. I have been clean for 2 and a half years now and would be absolutely willing to take a drug test to prove that. My daughter is almost 4 years old. My mother gave me no option but to... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jun 10, 2019

That question is much too complicated to answer on-line. You will need to retain an attorney to review all the facts and circumstances, and advise you what actions you would have to take. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local attorney.

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