Most adoptions follow the same basic steps, but each case is unique. Your process may look different depending on whether you’re adopting through a private agreement, an agency, as a stepparent, or across state lines.
Typically, the seven main steps in the adoption process include the following:
- Choose the type of adoption that best fits your unique situation.
- Complete a home study.
- Gather and submit the required paperwork.
- Secure birth parent consent (or terminate parental rights).
- Attend court for legal approval and placement.
- Finalize the adoption.
- Follow up with post-placement support.
Each step has legal rules and emotional challenges. Our Toledo adoption lawyer will keep your case on track and work to avoid delays. Adoption is a life-changing decision filled with both hope and uncertainty.
Having legal support helps you feel more confident, informed, and prepared for the road ahead. Below is a closer look at each step and what you can expect from start to finish.
Step 1: Decide What Type of Adoption Fits Your Situation
Adoption starts with choosing the right type. Each one has different rules and timelines:
- Agency adoption: In this arrangement, a licensed agency places a child with a family. This can involve public agencies like children’s services or private ones.
- Private adoption: This type of adoption is arranged between the birth parents and adoptive parents, often with help from an attorney.
- Stepparent adoption: A common scenario involving this kind of adoption is when one parent remarries and the stepparent adopts the child. These still involve legal steps, including the other parent’s consent or termination of rights.
- Relative or kinship adoption: When a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other family member adopts the child.
Our Toledo family lawyer can explain your options and help you plan for your family’s future.
For a free legal consultation, call (419) 930-3030
Step 2: Complete a Home Study
A home study is required in nearly all adoptions in Ohio. It involves a licensed social worker who:
- Visits your home
- Reviews your background, finances, and health
- Interviews you and your household
- Provides training and education on adoption
This step helps show that you are ready and able to provide a safe and stable home.
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Step 3: Gather and Submit the Required Paperwork
Adoption involves a lot of documents. Missing or incomplete forms can delay the entire process. When we handle your case, we will likely need to submit the following:
- Birth certificates and marriage licenses
- Background checks and fingerprints
- Financial statements and employment records
- Health records
- Consent forms from birth parents (if required)
If anything is missing or incorrect, the court may not move forward. An attorney can organize everything for you and submit everything on time.
Step 4: Obtain Consent (or Terminate Parental Rights)
One of the most emotional parts of the process is getting consent from the birth parents. In Ohio:
- Both birth parents usually must consent, unless their rights have already been terminated.
- If the birth father is unknown or not involved, the process requires extra legal steps.
- In some cases, the court may waive consent if it is determined that a parent has abandoned the child or is unfit.
If consent is contested or unclear, your case will need to be heard before the court and we will prepare your case for that hearing.
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Step 5: Get Court Approval and Legal Placement
Once the paperwork is complete and consent is in place, the next step is to attend a court hearing.
A judge will:
- Review your documents.
- Confirm that all legal steps were followed.
- Grant legal custody or placement.
In some cases, you may need temporary placement first while the final order is pending.
Step 6: Finalize the Adoption
After placement, there is a waiting period (usually six months) where the court monitors how the child adjusts to the home. After this, you attend another court hearing to finalize the adoption.
This is when:
- The judge issues a final decree of adoption.
- The child’s name may be legally changed.
- You will receive a new birth certificate listing you as the parent.
This step makes the adoption permanent in the eyes of the law.
Step 7: Follow Up With Legal Support After the Adoption
Even after the final decree, some families need support. You might deal with:
- Open adoption agreements about future contact.
- Updating estate plans or school records.
- Questions from your child about their background.
- Emotional adjustment challenges.
Our adoption attorneys will handle follow-up issues, including enforcing or updating agreements.
Common Issues That May Arise in Ohio Adoptions
Adoption in Ohio doesn’t always go smoothly. Some common legal issues include:
- A birth parent refuses to give consent.
- The identity of the father is unknown or contested.
- Documents are incomplete or filed incorrectly.
- A background check reveals an issue.
The adoption crosses state lines, triggering the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
Our attorney handling adoptions will work to resolve these issues before they delay or derail your adoption.
Here’s How You Can Prepare for an Adoption in Ohio
Completing the adoption process can be stressful, especially if you aren’t prepared. Here are a few steps that can help you get ready:
- Understand your legal options: Know the pros and cons of private, agency, or stepparent adoptions.
- Gather your documents: Start gathering the paperwork you will need.
- Plan for your home study: Make sure your home is safe, clean, and ready.
- Talk openly as a family: If you have other children, prepare them for the change.
- Work with our experienced lawyer: Our team offers legal help that will give you clarity, avoid mistakes, and protect your rights. We will cover the basics of adoption in Ohio and answer your questions.
Groth & Associates Will Manage the Adoption Process for You
The seven steps in the adoption process outlined above are legally complex, emotionally draining, and different for every family. At Groth & Associates, we understand the issues that can come up as you pursue the adoption and will manage them for you.
Our team of experienced trial lawyers has over 100 years of combined experience guiding Ohio families with legal matters. We will help you choose the right path, handle the paperwork, and protect your interests in court.
If complications arise—like disputed consent or cross-state laws—we will be ready to act. Trial experience matters, especially if your case heads to court. Let us support your family at every step. Call us today for a private case evaluation.
Call or text (419) 930-3030 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form