Adoption in Madison County Probate Court

Madison County Probate Court

Madison County Courthouse, 1 N. Main Street, London, OH 43140. Phone (740) 852-0756. Probate fax (740) 852-7353 (not accepted for adoption cases). Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Court website. Probate forms. Probate Local Rules (Appendix A).

Who this is for

• You are a stepparent adopting your spouse's child and have been married to that parent for more than one year (Madison requires this before approving a stepparent adoption).
• You are adopting a minor through a licensed agency — including Madison County DJFS — or a private placement and need to file in Madison County.
• You want to adopt an adult, for example to formalize a long-standing parent-child relationship.
• You finalized an adoption abroad and need Ohio to recognize it and register an Ohio birth record.
• A relative or kinship caregiver wants to adopt a child already living in their home.
• You need to confirm whose consent is required, or ask the court to find that consent is not required under R.C. 3107.07.

What it costs — two ways to hire us

Limited scope, flat fee — Flat fee $4,000

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.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay. See every financing option.

Real people, — with direct lines

• Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
• Niva Elgin — Senior Case Manager · Licensed New Mexico Attorney

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 Madison 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 Madison County?

Adoption of a minor (18.x forms)

These are the core Ohio standardized forms for adopting a child. Madison County also posts its probate forms here: https://www.co.madison.oh.us/departments/court_system/juvenile_probate/probate.php

• 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.

• Form 19.0 Petition for Adoption of Adult
• Form 19.1 Final Order of Adoption of Adult

Recognizing a foreign adoption (19.2–19.3)

Use these to have Ohio recognize an adoption completed in another country and to register an Ohio birth record (Madison charges a separate registration deposit).

• Form 19.2 Petition to Recognize Foreign Adoption
• Form 19.3 Order for Ohio Birth Record for Foreign Born Child

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 Madison County Probate Court's fee schedule (Probate Local Rules Appendix A) sets the deposit for a petition to adopt a minor or for placement proceedings, for an adult adoption, and to register a foreign birth record, and it charges separately for pleadings filed by a party. The Clerk may demand an additional deposit if the initial amount is insufficient. Confirm the current amounts in the Probate Local Rules (https://www.co.madison.oh.us/document_center/Juvenile%20Probate/Probate/Madison%20County%20Probate%20Court%20Local%20Rules.pdf) before you file.

How does an adoption move through the Madison County Probate Court, step by step?

1. Decide which kind of adoption you are filing A 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, fees, and steps differ, so identify your path first. A stepparent adoption is not approved in Madison County unless you have been married to the child's parent for more than one year.
2. Gather the birth record and required consents File the child's birth record with the petition and the consent of each birth parent or party whose agreement the law requires (Form 18.3). A child age 12 or older must also consent. If a parent's consent is excused under R.C. 3107.07, the court can find consent is not required (Form 18.4).
3. File the petition with an original and a copy Adoptions cannot be fax-filed in Madison County. File an original and a copy of every petition, interlocutory decree, and final decree (plus extra copies for service) at the Madison County Probate Court in the Madison County Courthouse, 1 N. Main Street, London, OH 43140, and pay the deposit from the Probate fee schedule (the amount depends on whether you are adopting a minor or an adult, or registering a foreign birth record). Do not staple the filing.
4. Complete a home study or assessment A home study is generally required and is done by a qualified member of the court's staff (the court appoints an outside assessor only for good cause). For a private placement, a pre-placement application must be filed at least 5 days before placement if you are a Madison County resident, or 30 days if you are not.
5. Attend the hearing The court sets a hearing and orders notice (Forms 18.1–18.2), checks the Ohio Putative Father Registry, and at the hearing the judge reviews the petition, the consents, and the assessment and decides whether the adoption is in the child's best interest.
6. 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), and a new birth record is issued.

What should I know about the Madison County Probate Court before I file?

• File at the Madison County Probate Court (the Probate Division of the Madison County Probate & Juvenile Court), in the Madison County Courthouse, 1 N. Main Street, London, OH 43140. The Probate Court is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
• You can reach the Madison County Probate Court at (740) 852-0756; the Probate fax ((740) 852-7353) is not accepted for adoption cases. The Probate forms page is https://www.co.madison.oh.us/departments/court_system/juvenile_probate/probate.php, and case records can be searched at https://www.co.madison.oh.us/departments/court_system/juvenile_probate/index_search.php.
• Madison County's Probate division uses the Supreme Court of Ohio's standardized probate forms and asks filers to supplement its own probate forms page with that set. Always download the current version before you file.
• Probate filing fees come from the Probate Local Rules Appendix A (effective Nov. 13, 2025): https://www.co.madison.oh.us/document_center/Juvenile%20Probate/Probate/Madison%20County%20Probate%20Court%20Local%20Rules.pdf. The Clerk may demand an additional deposit if the initial amount is insufficient, and a small remaining balance is not refunded. Confirm the current figure with the Probate Court before you file.

Where do I file an adoption in Madison County?

Adoptions are filed in the Madison County Probate Court — the Probate Division of the Madison County Probate & Juvenile Court — in the Madison County Courthouse, 1 N. Main Street, London, OH 43140. The Probate Court is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, and you can reach it at (740) 852-0756.

How much does an adoption cost in Madison County?

The Probate fee schedule (Local Rules Appendix A) sets the deposit to adopt a minor or for placement proceedings, for an adult adoption, and to register a foreign birth record. The Clerk may demand an additional deposit if the initial amount is insufficient. Confirm the current amounts in the Probate Local Rules before you file.

Can I fax-file an adoption in Madison County?

No. Madison County's Probate Local Rules do not allow adoption (or mental-illness) cases to be fax-filed. You file an original and a copy of every petition and decree in person or by mail, and you should not staple the filing.

How long do I have to be married before a stepparent adoption?

Madison County will not approve a stepparent adoption unless the petitioning stepparent has been married to the child's parent for more than one year (Probate Local Rule 75.1(E)). The other legal parent's consent is generally required unless it is excused under R.C. 3107.07.

Do I need the other birth parent's consent — and does the child consent?

Usually you need the consent of the child's other legal parent (Form 18.3), unless the court finds consent is not required under R.C. 3107.07 (for example, when a parent failed without justifiable cause to support or communicate with the child for at least a year). In Madison County a child who is 12 or older must also consent.

Will I need a home study?

A home study is generally required and is completed by a qualified member of the court's staff; the court appoints an outside assessor only for good cause. For a private placement, a pre-placement application must be filed before placement (at least 5 days before if you live in Madison County, 30 days before if you do not).

Can I adopt an adult in Madison 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). The Probate fee schedule sets the deposit for an adult adoption; confirm the current amount in the Probate Local Rules.

Do I need a lawyer to adopt in Madison 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 work with an Ohio family-law attorney to make sure the decree holds up.