Can your past convictions or offenses prevent you from adopting a child in Ohio?

In Ohio, the short answer is YES.  The long answer is – maybe, it depends.  If you have violated any of the laws in this section of the Ohio Revised Code: http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/5101%3A2-48-10, then you may be ineligible to adopt a child in Ohio.  Note that the statute discusses a “violation” of one of these laws, not a “conviction” of one of these laws.  This may come into play where a person was charged with one crime and pled to a lesser crime.  In addition, any law which is not listed in statute, but may effect a child, may also prevent you from successfully pursuing adoption. 

This statute applies not only to the adoptive parent or parents, but to every person in your household.  Sometimes people fail to disclose a crime they committed because they crime was expunged or was committed when he or she was a juvenile.  Then they are surprised when the crime shows up on their record when they are fingerprinted.  Guess who else is unpleasantly surprised?  The social worker that receives the results of your fingerprints before you do and subsequently denies approval of your home study.  If you’re starting to get the feeling that lying about or omitting past indiscretions during the adoption process will come back to bite you in the behind, you are catching on. 

There is some home, depending on the nature and circumstances of the issues in your past.  A court can consider whether you have been rehabilitated.  To learn more about the rehabilitation standards, you can review the Ohio Revised Code or schedule a consultation with an attorney. 

The information provided in this web site is applicable in the state of Ohio and is provided as a public service. While Virginia Cornwell is a Columbus Ohio Divorce Lawyer, Columbus Ohio Custody Attorney, Adoption Attorney in Columbus Ohio, an Ohio Grandparents Rights Attorney, and an Ohio Child Custody Jurisdiction Attorney, viewing the information in this web site does not constitute an attorney-client communication, and acting upon information obtained from this web site does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you would like to discuss the application of the law to your fact situation, or if you would like additional information, please call the Law Offices of Virginia C. Cornwell at 614-225-9316 to schedule a  consultation

Schedule a Consultation:

1. Your Name:(required)
2. Your Email:(required)
3. Phone Number to Reach You:(required)
4. Message(required)
5. I am aware that the initial consultation fee is $125.
6. I have not included any contact information that should not be used to reach me.

 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Published in Child Custody Jurisdiction, Columbus Family Law Attorney, Columbus Ohio Child Custody Law, Columbus Ohio Custody Lawyer, Columbus Ohio Divorce Lawyer, Columbus Ohio Divorce Lawyers, Custody Jurisdiction, Divorce Attorney Columbus, Divorce Attorney Columbus Ohio, Divorce Columbus, Divorce Law, Divorce Lawyer Columbus, Divorce Lawyer Columbus Ohio, Family Law Ohio, Grandparent Rights, Grandparent custody, Grandparent visitation, Grandparents Rights Attorney, Grandparents Rights Attorney Ohio, Grandparents Rights Lawyer, Grandparents Rights Lawyer Ohio, Ohio Child Custody Jurisdiction, Ohio Custody Jurisdiction, Ohio Custody Lawyer, Ohio Divorce Attorney, Ohio Divorce Law, Ohio Divorce Lawyer, attorneys, child custody attorney columbus, child custody attorney ohio, child custody lawyer ohio, child custody ohio, columbus ohio custody attorney, columbus ohio divorce attorney, custody, custody lawyer columbus, custody ohio, grandparents attorney, grandparents custody, grandparents lawyer, ohio custody attorney, ohio divorce