Adult Adoption
Adult Adoption
R.C. 3107.02 Who may be adopted; placement period before adoption – effective 03/20/2025:
(B) An adult may be adopted under any of the following conditions:
(1) If the adult is totally or permanently disabled;
(2) If the adult is determined to be a person with a developmental disability, as defined in section 5123.01 of the Revised Code;
(3) If the adult had established a child-foster caregiver, kinship caregiver, or child-stepparent relationship with the petitioners as a minor, and the adult consents to the adoption;
(4) If the adult was, at the time of the adult’s eighteenth birthday, in the permanent custody of or in a planned permanent living arrangement with a public children services agency or a private child placing agency, and the adult consents to the adoption;
(5) If the adult is the child of the spouse of the petitioner, and the adult consents to the adoption.
(C) When proceedings to adopt a minor are initiated by the filing of a petition, and the eighteenth birthday of the minor occurs prior to the decision of the court, the court shall require the person who is to be adopted to submit a written statement of consent or objection to the adoption. If an objection is submitted, the petition shall be dismissed, and if a consent is submitted, the court shall proceed with the case, and may issue an interlocutory order or final decree of adoption.
(D) An adult who consents to an adoption pursuant to division (B)(4) of this section shall provide the court with the name and contact information of the public children services agency or private child placing agency that had permanent custody of or a planned permanent living arrangement with that adult. The petitioner shall request verification from the agency as to whether the adult was or was not in the permanent custody of or in a planned permanent living arrangement with that agency at the time of the adult’s eighteenth birthday and provide the verification to the court.
Items necessary to file a Petition for Adoption of Adult:
• Petitioner(s) must be a Shelby County resident(s), OR meet one of the other statutory venue criteria;
• A certified copy of the adult adoptee’s birth certificate;
• Petitioner(s) and the Adult Adoptee will be required to attend a court hearing;
• See Local Rules Appendix for current cost deposit amount;
• Complete the requirements listed on the Court’s Checklist shown below.
The Petitioner or Petitioner’s attorney will complete the Certificate of Adoption. The completed form will be sent by the Court to the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the state of the Adult Adoptee’s birth. The Petitioner is responsible for subsequently requesting a new birth certificate from Vital Statistics; Petitioner should allow 6-8 weeks after the adoption is finalized to request a new birth certificate to allow sufficient processing time by the state.
Standard Probate Forms
For all Standard Probate Forms click here.
For Checklists and Forms exclusive to Shelby County Probate Court, see the forms section below.