Who May Adopt, Be Adopted, or Place a Child for Adoption - Ohio

Date: January 2020

Who May Adopt

Citation: Rev. Code § 3107.03

The following persons may adopt:

  • A husband and wife together, at least one of whom is an adult
  • An unmarried adult or a married person singly if legally separated
  • The unmarried minor parent of the person to be adopted
  • A married adult without his or her spouse joining as a petitioner if any of the following apply:
    • The spouse is a parent of the person to be adopted and supports the adoption.
    • The petitioner and his or her spouse are separated.
    • The failure of the spouse to join in the petition or to support the adoption is found by the court to be by reason of prolonged unexplained absence, unavailability, incapacity, or circumstances that make it impossible or unreasonably difficult to obtain either the support or refusal of the spouse.

Who May Be Adopted

Citation: Rev. Code § 3107.02

Any minor may be adopted.

An adult may be adopted under the following conditions:

  • The adult is totally or permanently disabled.
  • The adult is determined to be a person with an intellectual disability.
  • The adult had established a relationship with the petitioner as a foster caregiver, kinship caregiver, or stepparent while a minor, and the adult consents to the adoption.
  • The adult was, at the time of his or her 18th birthday, in the permanent custody of or in a planned permanent living arrangement with a public children's services agency or a private child-placing agency, and the adult consents to the adoption.
  • The adult is the child of the spouse of the petitioner, and the adult consents to the adoption.

Who May Place a Child for Adoption

Citation: Rev. Code § 3107.011

A person seeking to adopt a minor shall utilize an agency or attorney to arrange the adoption. Only an agency or attorney may arrange an adoption.

Any person may informally aid or promote an adoption by making a person seeking to adopt a minor aware of a minor who will be or is available for adoption.