Adoption in Clermont County Probate Court

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

You file a petition for adoption in the Clermont County Probate Court at 2379 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103. Minor adoptions begin with Form 18.0 (Petition for Adoption of Minor); adult adoptions use Form 19.0; and a foreign adoption is recognized with Form 19.2. After filing, the court issues an order for hearing and appoints an investigator (Form 18.1), and for many placements it requires pre-placement approval and a home study before the hearing. The judge then enters an interlocutory order and a final decree (Forms 18.5–18.7), or a single final order for an adult adoption (Form 19.1).

Clermont County Probate Court

2379 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103. Phone (513) 732-7243, fax (513) 732-8183. Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM). Court website. Cost deposits.

Who this is for

  • You are a stepparent adopting your spouse's child and need the court to make it legal and permanent.
  • You are adopting a minor through a private placement or a licensed agency and need to file in Clermont County.
  • You want to adopt an adult — for example to formalize a long-standing parent-child relationship.
  • You finalized an adoption abroad and need an Ohio court to recognize it and issue an Ohio birth record.
  • A relative or kinship caregiver wants to adopt a child already living in their home.
  • You need the court's pre-placement approval before a child is placed with you for adoption.

What it costs — two ways to hire us

Limited scope, flat fee — Flat fee $4,600

You hire us for a defined piece of the work — drafting and filing your adoption paperwork, a single hearing, a specific motion — at a fixed, published price. The court's filing fee is paid to the Clerk of Courts separately. The number you see is the number you pay at checkout. What each flat fee covers.

Full representation — $3,500 retainer to start

An attorney manages the whole case — strategy, filings, hearings, negotiation. The retainer is known before you sign and is a deposit against work, not the total cost; the total depends on how contested your case becomes. You watch every dollar of it in real time. How full representation is billed.

Is there financing? Yes.

On limited-scope services of $2,000 or more, Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan with no interest and no credit check — takes 60% down to start, then the balance in three monthly payments, the first due 28 days after your initial payment. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay. See every financing option.

Real people, — with direct lines

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — or Niva Elgin, our senior case manager and a licensed New Mexico attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Clermont County. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Senior Case Manager. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

  • 95+ five-star Google reviews
  • 60+ years of combined Ohio family-law experience
  • Super Lawyers Rising Stars honorees on the team: Elizabeth Warren (2021–2023) and Samantha Berkhofer (2019–2021)
  • Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained, — and every step after

  1. Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, or Niva Elgin about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
  2. Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
  3. Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
  4. Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

  • Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
  • Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
  • Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
  • Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
  • Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
  • 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Frequently asked questions

Which forms do I need for an adoption in Clermont County?

Adoption of a minor (18.x forms)

These are the core forms for adopting a child. Open the court's Adoption Forms page to download each PDF: https://probatejuvenile.clermontcountyohio.gov/probate-court/forms/adoption-forms

Adoption of an adult (19.x forms)

Adult adoptions use a shorter set of forms and are decided with a single final order.

Recognizing a foreign adoption (19.2–19.3)

Use these to have Ohio recognize an adoption completed in another country and to obtain an Ohio birth record.

Pre-placement & placement (118.x forms)

Many private and direct placements require the court's approval before a child is placed in your home.

Consents & acknowledgments

Consents and acknowledgments document who has agreed to the adoption or the placement.

Clermont County Probate Court charges a filing fee to open an adoption case. The court does not publish a single flat figure in its general materials, so confirm the current filing fee on the court's Cost Deposits page (https://probatejuvenile.clermontcountyohio.gov/probate-court/cost-deposits/) or by calling (513) 732-7243 before you file.

How does an adoption move through the Clermont County Probate Court, step by step?
  1. Decide which kind of adoption you are filing Minor adoption (stepparent, agency, or private placement) starts with Form 18.0; an adult adoption uses Form 19.0; and a foreign adoption is recognized with Form 19.2. The forms and steps differ, so identify your path first.
  2. Get pre-placement approval and a home study if required For many private or direct placements the court must approve the placement before the child moves in (Form 118.20 Pre-Placement Application, Form 118.30 Application for Approval Placement) and may order a home study (Form 118.33).
  3. File the petition and supporting forms File your petition (Form 18.0, 19.0, or 19.2) with the required consents and acknowledgments at the Clermont County Probate Court, 2379 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103. Pay the filing fee set on the court's Cost Deposits page.
  4. The court sets a hearing and appoints an investigator For minor adoptions the court issues an Order for Hearing and appoints an investigator (Form 18.1) who reviews the case and reports back before the hearing. Required parties receive notice of the hearing (Form 18.2).
  5. Attend the hearing At the hearing the judge reviews the petition, the consents, and the investigator's report and decides whether the adoption is in the child's best interest.
  6. Receive the decree and adoption certificate The judge enters an interlocutory order and then a final decree (Forms 18.5–18.7) — or a single final order for an adult adoption (Form 19.1) — and issues the adoption certificate (Form 18.8).
What should I know about the Clermont County Probate Court before I file?
  • File in person at the Clermont County Probate Court, 2379 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM) — plan around the midday closing so you are not turned away at lunch.
  • The court publishes its filing fees on its Cost Deposits page (https://probatejuvenile.clermontcountyohio.gov/probate-court/cost-deposits/); confirm the current amount with the Probate Court before you file, because the source court materials do not quote a fixed dollar figure.
  • Clermont County's probate local rules (effective September 4, 2025) govern how these cases are handled — review them at https://probatejuvenile.clermontcountyohio.gov/media/Probate/About/localruleseff9-4-2025.pdf before filing.
  • You can look up an existing probate case through Clermont County's online case access portal at https://eservices.clermontclerk.org/probate/home.page.2. Per SUP.R. 44(C)(2) and (G)(2), remote access excludes electronic images of case documents; full document images are available by direct access at the court.
Where do I file an adoption in Clermont County?
Adoptions are filed in the Clermont County Probate Court at 2379 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM). You can reach the court at (513) 732-7243.
Which forms do I need to adopt in Clermont County?
A minor adoption starts with Form 18.0 (Petition for Adoption of Minor) plus consents (Form 18.3) and the order appointing an investigator (Form 18.1). An adult adoption uses Form 19.0, and a foreign adoption is recognized with Form 19.2. All of the court's adoption forms are listed on its Adoption Forms page.
How does a stepparent adoption work in Clermont County?
A stepparent adoption is filed as a minor adoption (Form 18.0). The court generally needs the consent of the child's other legal parent (Form 18.3) unless the law excuses that consent, appoints an investigator, holds a hearing, and then enters a final decree making the stepparent a legal parent.
Can I adopt an adult in Clermont County?
Yes. Adult adoptions are filed with Form 19.0 (Petition for Adoption of Adult). The court sets a hearing (Form 19.01) and, after the hearing, enters a single Final Order of Adoption of Adult (Form 19.1).
How do I get Ohio to recognize an adoption I completed abroad?
File Form 19.2 (Petition to Recognize Foreign Adoption) in the Clermont County Probate Court. The court can recognize the foreign adoption and, with Form 19.3, order an Ohio birth record for a foreign-born child.
Do I need a home study or pre-placement approval?
Many private and direct placements require the court's pre-placement approval (Form 118.20) and an order for placement (Form 118.30) before the child is placed with you, and the court may order a home study (Form 118.33). Requirements vary by case, so confirm what applies to yours with the court.
How much does an adoption cost in Clermont County?
The court charges a filing fee that is not quoted as a flat figure in its general materials. Confirm the current amount on the Probate Court's Cost Deposits page (https://probatejuvenile.clermontcountyohio.gov/probate-court/cost-deposits/) or by calling (513) 732-7243. Attorney fees, if you hire counsel, are separate.
Do I need a lawyer to adopt in Clermont County?
You are not required to hire a lawyer, and the court provides the forms to file on your own. Because contested consents, agency placements, and foreign-adoption recognition can be complex, many families choose to work with an Ohio family-law attorney to make sure the decree holds up.

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