Ohio Relinquishment, Consent, Revocation laws

Who Must Consent:

• The mother.
  
• The father if he was married to the mother at the time of conception, is the adoptive father, or has established paternity.
  
• The putative father.
  
• Any agency or person having permanent custody.
  
• The court having jurisdiction to determine custody.
  
  
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Consent of Adoptee:

A child 12 years or older must consent, unless it is in the child's best interest to waive the requirement.

When Parental Consent is Not Needed:

• The parent fails to contact or provide for the child for 1 year.
  
• The putative father is not the actual father.
  
• The parent relinquishes or has parental rights terminated.
  
• A guardian or custodian withholds consent unreasonably.
  
• A parent or guardian is in a foreign country and child is released for adoption pursuant to laws in that country.
  
  

When Relinquishment Can Be Signed:

Consent cannot be executed until at least 72 hours after the child's birth.

How Relinquishment Must Be Signed:

• By the adoptee in the presence of the court.
  
• By an agency, before an authorized person.
  
• By another person or parent except the minor, before the court or an authorized person.
  
• By court order.
  

Time for Revocation:

A consent is irrevocable except if consent is withdrawn prior to the:

• interlocutory order
  
• entry of the final decree when no other order has been entered after a hearing that finds withdrawal is in the best interest of the adoptee.

Adapted from materials prepared by the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.