Adoption in Cincinnati – What to Know

A family law attorney in Cincinnati can help you through the process of adopting a child. Adoption is an exciting time, full of wonder and surprise, but it is not without its difficulties. Here are some of the different adoption scenarios with which our Cincinnati family law attorneys can help you:

Adoption by a Single Parent

Adopting can be tougher as an unmarried individual. Adoption services tend to favor married couples, for better or worse. Our goal in assisting would-be adoptive parents, whether they are single or in a couple, is to make the process as smooth as possible. In Ohio, you can adopt a child no matter your sexual orientation, and no matter your cis/trans status.

Adoption by a Step-parent

As a stepmother or stepfather, your adoption happens in the county court of common pleas, in whatever county the child lives. During this process, the family can change the child’s last name as well. Once the child is adopted, the duties and legal rights of the previous parent end. Stepparent adoptions can happen with the agreement of the previous parent, or it can be court-ordered.

Adoption by a Foster Parent

The Children’s Services Agency must agree to a foster care adoption before it can happen. It can be confusing sometimes, particularly as timing for such agreements can be unpredictable. Our family law attorneys in Cincinnati can assist with every step of the paperwork and the petitioning process.

Adoption by a Grandparent

For a grandparent to adopt their grandchild, a home-study is conducted by the court, followed by proper notice. There are situations in which the state of Ohio does not need either birth parent’s consent to go ahead with the grandparent’s adoption. The court can change the child’s last name during this process too.

Adoption Across State Lines

Differing laws from state to state make it challenging to adopt a child from another state. Both states must agree to the adoption, before the child can move from his or her original home to the new state of the adoptive parent. The agency which oversees inter-state adoptions is the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, or ICPC. Our team can help you work with the ICPC to navigate the sometimes-confusing paperwork required to make such adoptions go through smoothly.

Adoption Across International Borders

Whenever a parent adopts a child from another country, the situation can become very complicated very quickly. Nobody can move a child from one country to another without the explicit, clear consent of both countries, and this consent can be difficult to obtain. Adoption agencies that specialize in international adoptions are almost always at the center of these cases, and the adopting parents is nearly always required to have their own legal representative. You will want to speak with a family law attorney before beginning the first steps required to adopt from another country.

Private Adoption

A private adoption is any situation in which the birth mother works directly with the adoptive parent(s) rather than through an adoption agency. A private adoption often happens more rapidly than an adoption placement using an agency. In an agency adoption, the birth mother often does not have legal representation; in private adoptions, our family law team works to protect both the birth mothers and the adoptive parents.

Our experienced adoption attorneys understand not only the legal ramifications of different types of adoption, but they embrace the sensitive and emotional nature of any adoption. Many adoption attempts do not go through, for a variety of reasons, and these complex legal processes can be painful. Our mission is to make the adoption a successful one, and to make the process as stress-free and positive as possible for all parties involved.