Section 5103.151. Duties prospective parent of adoptee

(A) As used in this section and in section 5103.152 of the Revised Code, "identifying information" has the same meaning as in section 3107.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, a parent of a minor who will be, if adopted, an adopted person as defined in section 3107.45 of the Revised Code shall do all of the following as a condition of a juvenile court approving the parent's agreement with a public children services agency or private child placing agency under division (B)(1) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code:

(1) Appear personally before the court;

(2) Sign the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(a) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code;

(3) Check either the "yes" or "no" space provided on the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code and sign that component;

(4) If the parent is the mother, complete and sign the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(c) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code.

At the time the parent signs the components of the form prescribed under divisions (A)(1)(a), (b), and (c) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code, the parent may sign, if the parent chooses to do so, the components of the form prescribed under divisions (A)(1)(d), (e), and (f) of that section. After the parent signs the components required to be signed and any discretionary components the parent chooses to sign, the parent or agency shall file the form and agreement with the court. The court or agency shall give the parent a copy of the form and agreement. The court and agency shall keep a copy of the form and agreement in the court and agency's records. The agency shall file a copy of the form and agreement with the probate court with which a petition to adopt the child who is the subject of the agreement is filed.

The juvenile court shall question the parent to determine that the parent understands the adoption process, the ramifications of entering into a voluntary permanent custody surrender agreement, each component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code, and that the child and adoptive parent may receive identifying information about the parent in accordance with section 3107.47 of the Revised Code unless the parent checks the "no" space provided on the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code or has a denial of release form filed with the department of health under section 3107.46 of the Revised Code. The court also shall question the parent to determine that the parent enters into the permanent custody surrender agreement voluntarily and any decisions the parent makes in filling out the form prescribed under division (A)(1) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code are made voluntarily.

(C) A juvenile court may approve an agreement entered into under division (B)(1) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code between a public children services agency or private child placing agency and the parents of a child who is less than six months of age and will be, if adopted, an adopted person as defined in section 3107.45 of the Revised Code without the parents personally appearing before the court if both parents do all of the following:

(1) Enter into the agreement with the agency;

(2) Sign the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(a) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code;

(3) Check either the "yes" or "no" space provided on the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code and sign that component.

At the time the parents sign the components of the form prescribed under divisions (A)(1)(a) and (b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code, the mother shall complete and sign the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(c) of that section and the agency shall provide the parents the opportunity to sign, if they choose to do so, the components of the form prescribed under divisions (A)(1)(d), (e), and (f) of that section. Not later than two business days after the parents enter into the agreements and sign the components of the form required to be signed and any discretionary components the parents choose to sign, the agency shall file the agreements and forms with the court. The agency shall give the parents a copy of the agreements and forms. At the time the agency files the agreements and forms with the court, the agency also shall file with the court all other documents the director of job and family services requires by rules adopted under division (D) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code to be filed with the court. The court and agency shall keep a copy of the agreements, forms, and documents in the court and attorney's records. The agency shall file a copy of the agreements, forms, and documents with the probate court with which a petition to adopt the child who is the subject of the agreement is filed.

(D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, a parent of a minor, who will be, if adopted, an adopted person as defined in section 3107.38 of the Revised Code, shall do all of the following as a condition of a juvenile court approving the parent's agreement with a public children services agency or private child placing agency under division (B)(1) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code:

(1) Appear personally before the court;

(2) Sign the component of the form prescribed under division (B)(1)(a) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code;

(3) If the parent is the mother, complete and sign the component of the form prescribed under division (B)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code.

At the time the parent signs the components prescribed under divisions (B)(1)(a) and (b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code, the parent may sign, if the parent chooses to do so, the components of the form prescribed under divisions (B)(1)(c), (d), and (e) of that section. After the parent signs the components required to be signed and any discretionary components the parent chooses to sign, the parent or agency shall file the form and agreement with the court. The court or agency shall give the parent a copy of the form and agreement. The court and agency shall keep a copy of the form and agreement in the court and agency's records. The agency shall file a copy of the form and agreement with the probate court with which a petition to adopt the child who is the subject of the agreement is filed.

The juvenile court shall question the parent to determine that the parent understands the adoption process, the ramifications of entering into a voluntary permanent custody surrender agreement, and each component of the form prescribed under division (B)(1) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code. The court also shall question the parent to determine that the parent enters into the permanent custody surrender agreement voluntarily and any decisions the parent makes in filling out the form are made voluntarily.

(E) A juvenile court may approve an agreement entered into under division (B)(1) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code between a public children services agency or private child placing agency and the parent of a child who is less than six months of age and will be, if adopted, an adopted person as defined in section 3107.38 of the Revised Code without the parent personally appearing before the court if the parent does both of the following:

(1) Signs the component of the form prescribed under division (B)(1)(a) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code;

(2) If the parent is the mother, completes and signs the component of the form prescribed under division (B)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code.

At the time the parent signs that component, the agency shall provide the parent the opportunity to sign, if the parent chooses to do so, the components of the form prescribed under divisions (B)(1)(c), (d), and (e) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code. Not later than two business days after the parent enters into the agreement and signs the components of the form required to be signed and any discretionary components the parent chooses to sign, the agency shall file the agreement and form with the court. The agency shall give the parent a copy of the agreement and form. At the time the agency files the agreement and form with the court, the agency also shall file with the court all other documents the director of job and family services requires by rules adopted under division (D) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code to be filed with the court. The court and agency shall keep a copy of the agreement, form, and documents in the court and agency's records. The agency shall file a copy of the agreement, form, and documents with the probate court with which a petition to adopt the child who is the subject of the agreement is filed.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 56, SB 23, §1, eff. 3/20/2015.

Effective Date: 07-01-2000