Where do I file an adoption in Crawford County?

Adoptions are filed in the Crawford County Probate Court at 112 East Mansfield Street, Suite 103, Bucyrus, OH 44820, before Judge Sean E. Leuthold. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and you can reach the Probate Clerk at (419) 562-5876.

How much does an adoption cost in Crawford County?

The court's Local Rules (Rule 7) list a filing deposit of $170.00 for an adoption and $150.00 for an adoption placement. Publication costs and any attorney fees are separate. Confirm the current amount in the court's Local Rules or by calling (419) 562-5876.

Which forms do I need to adopt in Crawford County?

A minor adoption starts with Form 18.0 (Petition for Adoption of Minor) plus the consent forms (Form 18.3) and the entry setting the hearing (Form 18.1). An adult adoption uses Form 19.0, and a foreign adoption is recognized with Form 19.2. Crawford County uses the Supreme Court of Ohio's standardized probate forms; there is no separate county adoption packet posted online, so ask the Probate Clerk if anything local is required.

Do I need the other birth parent's consent?

Usually yes. The court generally needs the consent of the child's other legal parent (Form 18.3). Consent may be excused only in limited circumstances under R.C. 3107.06–.07 — for example, a parent's failure without justifiable cause to support or contact the child for at least one year. If you allege that, the parent is served notice and must file a written objection and appear, or the adoption may proceed.

Will I need a home study?

In most cases, yes. A home study by a qualified assessor is required in most Crawford County adoptions. The court will tell you what your case needs and may appoint an assessor. Ask the Probate Clerk how the home study works for your type of adoption.

Can I adopt an adult in Crawford County?

Yes. Adult adoptions are filed with Form 19.0 (Petition for Adoption of Adult), and the court enters a single Final Order of Adoption of Adult (Form 19.1). Adult adoptions are commonly used to formalize a long-standing parent-child relationship.

Do I need a lawyer to adopt in Crawford County?

By statute, only an attorney or a licensed agency may arrange an adoption, though a stepparent or adult adoption can often proceed without an agency. Confirm with the Probate Clerk whether counsel is expected in your case; many families work with an Ohio family-law attorney so the decree holds up.

Adoption in Crawford County Probate Court

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 17, 2026

You file an original petition for adoption in the Crawford County Probate Court at 112 East Mansfield Street, Suite 103, Bucyrus, OH 44820. A minor adoption (including a stepparent or kinship adoption) begins with Form 18.0 (Petition for Adoption of Minor); an adult adoption uses Form 19.0. You file the child's birth record and the required consents (Form 18.3) — a minor age 12 or older must also consent — and pay the filing deposit (the court's Local Rules list an adoption at $170.00, an adoption placement at $150.00). A home study by a qualified assessor is required in most cases. The court sets a hearing and orders notice (Forms 18.1–18.2), and after the hearing the judge enters an interlocutory order and a final decree (Forms 18.5–18.7), then a new birth record is issued.

Crawford County Probate Court

112 East Mansfield Street, Suite 103, Bucyrus, OH 44820. Phone (419) 562-5876, fax (419) 563-1914. Judge Sean E. Leuthold presides over the Probate Division. Open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.. Court website. Probate Division Local Rules (Rule 7 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 a grandparent, adult sibling, legal custodian, or guardian seeking a kinship (relative) adoption of a child in your home.
You are adopting a minor through a licensed agency or a private placement and need to file in Crawford County.
You want to adopt an adult — for example to formalize a long-standing parent-child relationship.
You need to confirm whose consent is required, or ask the court to find consent is not required under R.C. 3107.06–.07.
You are an unwed (putative) father who registered with the Ohio Putative Father Registry and want to understand your consent rights.

Ohio standardized probate forms

Adoption of a minor (18.x forms)

These are the core Ohio standardized forms for adopting a child, including a stepparent or kinship adoption. Crawford County uses the Supreme Court of Ohio probate set: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/forms/all-forms/probate/5

Form 18.0 Petition for Adoption of Minor — The petition that opens a minor adoption case.
Form 18.1 Judgment Entry Setting Hearing and Ordering Notice — Sets the hearing date and orders notice to the parties.
Form 18.2 Notice of Hearing on Petition for Adoption
Form 18.3 Consent to Adoption — Consent from a parent or party whose agreement the law requires; a child age 12 or older must also consent.
Form 18.4 Judgment Entry Finding Consent Not Required — Used when the court finds a consent is not required (e.g., under R.C. 3107.07).
Form 18.5 Interlocutory Order of Adoption
Form 18.6 Final Decree of Adoption (After Interlocutory Order)
Form 18.7 Final Decree of Adoption (Without Interlocutory Order)
Form 18.8 Adoption Certificate for Parents
Form 18.9 Petitioner's Account

Adoption of an adult (19.0–19.1)

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.

Child support agency notice

Filed when an adoption changes who is responsible for a child's support.

Form 19.4 Notice to the Child Support Enforcement Agency

The Crawford County Probate Court's Local Rules (Rule 7 — Deposits for Court Costs) list an adoption at $170.00 and an adoption placement at $150.00. Publication costs and any attorney fees are separate. Confirm the current amount in the court's Local Rules or by calling (419) 562-5876 before you file.

Step by step

Decide which kind of adoption you are filing A minor adoption — stepparent, kinship, 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, fees, and steps differ, so identify your path first.
Gather the birth record and required consents File the child's birth record with the petition and the consent of each parent or party whose agreement the law requires (Form 18.3). A minor age 12 or older must also consent. Consent may be excused only in limited circumstances under R.C. 3107.06–.07 (Form 18.4).
File the petition and pay the deposit File your original petition (Form 18.0, 19.0, or 19.2) at the Crawford County Probate Court, 112 East Mansfield Street, Suite 103, Bucyrus, OH 44820, and pay the filing deposit from the court's Local Rules ($170.00 adoption, $150.00 adoption placement).
Complete any required home study A home study by a qualified assessor is required in most Crawford County adoptions. The court will tell you what your case needs and may appoint an assessor; ask the Probate Clerk how this works for your type of adoption.
Attend the hearing The court sets a hearing and orders notice (Forms 18.1–18.2). The adopting parent(s) and the child must appear. At the hearing the judge reviews the petition, the consents, and the home study and decides whether the adoption is in the child's best interest.
Receive the decree and a new birth record 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) — issues the adoption certificate (Form 18.8), the original birth certificate is sealed, and a new birth record is issued.

Good to know about Crawford County

File at the Crawford County Probate Court, 112 East Mansfield Street, Suite 103, Bucyrus, OH 44820. The Probate Division is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; you can reach the Probate Clerk at (419) 562-5876 (fax (419) 563-1914).
Crawford County uses the Supreme Court of Ohio's standardized probate forms — there is no separate county adoption packet posted online, so each form below links to its official Ohio PDF. Always download the current version before you file.
The Probate Division (Judge Sean E. Leuthold) has exclusive jurisdiction over adoptions (R.C. Chapter 3107) — it is separate from the Domestic Relations side of the Common Pleas Court that handles divorces. Bring adoption and name-change questions to the Probate Clerk at (419) 562-5876.
Filing deposits are published in the court's Probate Division Local Rules (Rule 7 — Deposits for Court Costs): an adoption is $170.00, an adoption placement is $150.00, and a name change (adult or minor) is $100.00. Confirm the current figure with the Probate Clerk before you file.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file an adoption in Crawford County?: Adoptions are filed in the Crawford County Probate Court at 112 East Mansfield Street, Suite 103, Bucyrus, OH 44820, before Judge Sean E. Leuthold. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and you can reach the Probate Clerk at (419) 562-5876.
How much does an adoption cost in Crawford County?: The court's Local Rules (Rule 7) list a filing deposit of $170.00 for an adoption and $150.00 for an adoption placement. Publication costs and any attorney fees are separate. Confirm the current amount in the court's Local Rules or by calling (419) 562-5876.
Which forms do I need to adopt in Crawford County?: A minor adoption starts with Form 18.0 (Petition for Adoption of Minor) plus the consent forms (Form 18.3) and the entry setting the hearing (Form 18.1). An adult adoption uses Form 19.0, and a foreign adoption is recognized with Form 19.2. Crawford County uses the Supreme Court of Ohio's standardized probate forms; there is no separate county adoption packet posted online, so ask the Probate Clerk if anything local is required.
Do I need the other birth parent's consent?: Usually yes. The court generally needs the consent of the child's other legal parent (Form 18.3). Consent may be excused only in limited circumstances under R.C. 3107.06–.07 — for example, a parent's failure without justifiable cause to support or contact the child for at least one year. If you allege that, the parent is served notice and must file a written objection and appear, or the adoption may proceed.
Will I need a home study?: In most cases, yes. A home study by a qualified assessor is required in most Crawford County adoptions. The court will tell you what your case needs and may appoint an assessor. Ask the Probate Clerk how the home study works for your type of adoption.
Can I adopt an adult in Crawford County?: Yes. Adult adoptions are filed with Form 19.0 (Petition for Adoption of Adult), and the court enters a single Final Order of Adoption of Adult (Form 19.1). Adult adoptions are commonly used to formalize a long-standing parent-child relationship.
Do I need a lawyer to adopt in Crawford County?: By statute, only an attorney or a licensed agency may arrange an adoption, though a stepparent or adult adoption can often proceed without an agency. Confirm with the Probate Clerk whether counsel is expected in your case; many families work with an Ohio family-law attorney so the decree holds up.

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