Can both my spouse and I adopt each other's children from prior relationships in Ohio?

Yes, in general. In Ohio, each of you can pursue a stepparent adoption of your spouse's child through the Probate Court, so you can both become legal parents to every child in your blended family. Each adoption is its own case with its own requirements. How the court prefers to handle two related adoptions, filed together or one after the other, is something the Probate Court clerk in your county can confirm.

What applies to each adoption:

• Residency: Ohio has no minimum residency period (ORC § 3107.04), so a recent move does not hold you back.
• Child's consent: A child who is 12 or older must consent (ORC § 3107.06). If you have children of different ages, that applies child by child.
• The other parent: Each child's other legal parent matters in each case. Ohio's abandonment period is 12 months (ORC § 3107.07). Whether that applies to a particular parent depends on the facts, so for a contested case or a parent you cannot locate, ask the clerk or an attorney about your situation.
• Home study: Ohio does not automatically waive the home study for stepparent adoption (ORC § 3107.031). Ask the clerk what your county expects for each adoption.
• Court appearance: Ohio requires a brief court appearance to finalize a stepparent adoption.

What you get when both adoptions finish:

• Each of you is the legal parent of your own children and of your spouse's children.
• The children share the same legal parents, which helps with things like decision-making authority, Social Security and insurance benefits, and simplified school enrollment.
• The family has the psychological security of being legally united.

Timeline and cost:

• Stepparent adoptions in Ohio typically take 3-6 months. Whether two cases can move through the court at the same time is a question for your county's clerk.
• Court filing fees run $200-$500. Ask the clerk whether