Residency wait
None required
Ohio sets no residency waiting period, so you can start your stepparent adoption now.
ORC § 3107.04
Start today
$349
Complete Ohio package
592 Ohio families helped since 2001
Make Your Ohio Family Official.Ohio stepparent & adult adoption, done for you: court-ready documents for the Probate Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form, explain each step in plain words, and stay with your family until the Probate Court judge signs the decree.
$349 complete Ohio package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Abandonment period
12 months
When the other parent has abandoned the child for 12 months, that parent's consent is not needed.
ORC § 3107.07Child's consent
Age 12 and up
A child who is 12 or older must consent to the adoption, and we prepare that form.
ORC § 3107.06Home study
Required
Ohio does not waive the home study for stepparent adoptions, so we build it into your timeline.
ORC § 3107.031
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Ohio families choose us
We make your Ohio adoption simple, fast and affordable.
SimpleA 15-minute questionnaire. We do the rest and send your packet ready to sign and file.
Court approvedPrepared for your Ohio Probate Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
592 Ohio families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Ohio courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Ohio adoption specialist handles your case.
- We stay with you from filing to the new birth certificate.
- Unlimited revisions and real people on the phone, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST.
Start Your Ohio AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One court. About 3-6 months.
Ohio stepparent adoptions are filed in the Probate Court, and most families finish in about 3-6 months under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3107.
Start here · onlineTell us about your family
Start here · online
Tell us about your family
Answer our simple questions about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. Your Ohio court-ready documents are ready in 24-48 hours.
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3107Filing dayFile with your county Probate Court
Filing day
File with your county Probate Court
You file the petition with the Probate Court clerk in your Ohio county. There is no residency waiting period, so you can file as soon as your papers are signed.
ORC § 3107.04After filingThe other parent signs, or the court decides
After filing
The other parent signs, or the court decides
If the other parent will sign, we prepare the consent. If the other parent has abandoned the child for 12 months, we prepare the notice and the abandonment papers, and your case goes forward.
ORC § 3107.07Final hearingHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final hearing
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
The Probate Court sets a hearing, and the judge signs the final decree. Then you request the new birth certificate from the Ohio Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics.
Ohio Department of Health Office of Vital StatisticsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a two-parent home, and most families we help finish without the other parent's consent. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, the consent route is the simplest. We prepare the consent form, and your case moves straight toward the hearing.
- We prepare the consent form for the other parent to sign
- A child who is 12 or older signs a consent too
- Usually the quickest path to your hearing
They won't sign, or can't be found
Ohio does not require the other parent's signature when that parent has abandoned the child.
- Ohio's abandonment period is 12 months
- A parent who has abandoned the child for that long does not have to consent
- Your adoption can still be approved without that signature
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it for you. In Ohio, termination of the other parent's rights is not a separate case. It is handled as part of your adoption.
ORC § 3107.07In Ohio, a parent who has abandoned the child for 12 months does not have to sign, and your adoption can still go forward.
One flat package price, plus the court's filing fee
An Ohio family pays $349 for the complete document package and $99 for each additional child, plus the clerk's filing fee and any home study cost.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What Ohio families tell us
★★★★★
We just completed our stepparent adoption, and I have to say, the entire process was easier than I ever imagined. The forms were thorough and well-prepared, and when I had a question, your team was quick to respond with clear and helpful answers. The judge finalized our case today, and we couldn’t be happier! Thank you for everything you’ve done for our family.
★★★★★
Just wanted you to know our adoption was final March 26, 2008. Everything went off without a hitch. Thanks for offering a good clean service for a reasonable price. I came to you because I was told by the attorney I visited the going rate is $1000 down and average $3000 total if no complications. Astounding price for a simple adoption.
★★★★★
What a blessing your service has been! My husband was able to adopt my son after years of wanting to make our family whole. The paperwork was flawless, and the court had no issues with any of the documents. You made this process simple and stress-free, and we are forever grateful.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Ohio packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Adoption, prepared for filing in your county Probate Court
- Consent form for the other parent, or abandonment and notice papers under ORC § 3107.07
- Consent form for a child who is 12 or older
- Home study paperwork under ORC § 3107.031
- Cover sheet and filing instructions for your county Probate Court clerk
- Final decree of adoption and request for the new birth certificate from the Ohio Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in Ohio
Ohio allows adult adoption only when one of five conditions in 3107.02(B) applies. One of them covers an adult who is the child of the petitioner's spouse, which is the stepchild situation. The adult must consent under that condition. The case is filed in the Probate Court, a hearing is required, and the petitioner and adult must appear unless excused for good cause. Adult cases usually take about 4-8 weeks.
Five conditionsOhio limits who qualifies
Stepchild qualifiesIf the adult consents
Probate CourtFiled in your county
Hearing requiredBoth appear unless excused for good cause
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Ohio instructions make the process simple, and we are a phone call away at every step.
1
AnswerTell us about your family in our 15-minute questionnaire. Save and come back any time.2
Review & signYour complete packet arrives in 24–48 hours with step-by-step filing instructions.3
FileFile with your clerk. We stay with you through the hearing, the decree and the new birth certificate.
Talk to a Ohio adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Ohio courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 88 counties
We prepare your papers for all 88 Ohio counties
Ohio has 88 counties, and your adoption is filed with the Probate Court in the county that fits your family. We prepare your papers for your county, whether you live near Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron or a small town.
ColumbusClevelandCincinnatiToledoAkron+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Ohio stepparent and adult adoption
Have questions about adopting your stepchild? Our AI assistant draws on experience from over 34,000 completed adoptions to give you accurate, helpful answers. Ask anything — it's free and confidential.
Free & confidential · Not legal advice · Powered by AI
What Ohio families ask us
How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Ohio?
You file a petition for adoption in your county Probate Court under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3107. We prepare the petition, consents and notice papers in 24-48 hours. Most Ohio stepparent adoptions finish in about 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Ohio?
Yes, if the adult is the child of your spouse and the adult consents. That is one of five conditions in 3107.02(B). The case is filed in the Probate Court and usually takes about 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Ohio?
Our complete package is $349, and each additional child is $99. Your county Probate Court clerk sets the filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it. A home study may add a cost that varies.
What if the other parent refuses to sign or can't be found in Ohio?
Your adoption can still go forward when the other parent has abandoned the child for 12 months. That is the ground under ORC § 3107.07, and notice is a routine step we prepare. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent.
Does Ohio require a home study for a stepparent adoption?
Yes. Ohio does not waive the home study for stepparent adoptions under ORC § 3107.031. We build it into your timeline and prepare the paperwork the Probate Court expects.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Ohio?
A child who is 12 or older must consent under ORC § 3107.06. We prepare the child's consent form and include it in your packet.
Does child support end after a stepparent adoption in Ohio?
Yes. The other parent's duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Whether past-due support is still owed depends on Ohio law.
How do I get a new birth certificate after adoption in Ohio?
After the judge signs the decree, you request the new birth certificate from the Ohio Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics. Our packet includes that request, so the last step is simple.
Go deeper on Ohio adoption
Every guide is written from Ohio law.
How do I adopt an adult in Ohio?How old do you have to be to adopt in Ohio?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Ohio?How much does adult adoption cost in Ohio?
All Ohio adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Ohio?
Join the 592 Ohio families we have helped, and let us handle the paperwork while you focus on your child.
Start Your Ohio Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST