Where do I file an adoption in Mercer County?

Adoptions are filed in the Mercer County Probate Court at 101 North Main Street, Suite 307, Celina, OH 45822, before Judge Matthew L. Gilmore. The office is open Monday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, and you can reach the Probate Clerk at (419) 586-8779.

How much is a stepparent adoption in Mercer County?

The court's security-deposit schedule lists a stepparent adoption at $220.00. Other types are $325.00 (agency/private with placement), $230.00 (without placement), and $180.00 (adult). Confirm the current amount on the court's deposit schedule or by calling (419) 586-8779.

Which forms do I need to adopt in Mercer 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. Mercer County uses the Supreme Court of Ohio's standardized probate forms, and the court also posts an adoptions page with the current local packet from the Probate Clerk.

Who is allowed to adopt in Mercer County?

Under the Probate Division's local rule, Mercer County allows adoption by unmarried adults, a married adult without the other spouse joining, and stepparents, grandparents, adult siblings, legal custodians, and guardians. Ask the Probate Clerk if you are unsure whether your situation qualifies.

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 (within 14 days if the child was under one year old at filing, or 28 days if one year or older) and appear, or the adoption may proceed.

Will I need a home study?

Yes. A home study by a qualified assessor is required in every Mercer County adoption, regardless of type. The court will tell you what your case needs and may appoint an assessor.

Can I adopt an adult in Mercer 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 court's deposit schedule lists an adult adoption at $180.00.

Do I need a lawyer to adopt in Mercer County?

By statute, only an attorney or a licensed agency may arrange an adoption, though the Probate Court's local rule permits pro se filing and the court may allow you to proceed without an agency in a stepparent or adult adoption. 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 Mercer 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 Mercer County Probate Court at 101 North Main Street, Suite 307, Celina, OH 45822. 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 security deposit (a stepparent adoption is $220.00). A home study by a qualified assessor is required in every case. 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.

Mercer County Probate Court

101 North Main Street, Suite 307, Celina, OH 45822. Phone (419) 586-8779, fax (419) 586-4506. Open Monday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. Court website. Probate security-deposit schedule.

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 Mercer 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. Mercer County also posts an adoptions page here: https://mercercountycourts.com/adoptions.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.

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 Mercer County Probate Court's published security-deposit schedule lists a stepparent adoption at $220.00, an agency/private adoption with placement at $325.00 (without placement, $230.00), a refinalization at $200.00, and an adult adoption at $180.00. Confirm the current amount on the court's deposit schedule (https://mercercountycourts.com/securityDeposits.php) or by calling (419) 586-8779 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 Mercer County Probate Court, 101 North Main Street, Suite 307, Celina, OH 45822, and pay the security deposit from the court's schedule ($220 stepparent, $325/$230 agency or private, or $180 adult).
Complete the required home study A home study by a qualified assessor is required in every Mercer County adoption, regardless of type. The court will tell you what your case needs and may appoint an assessor.
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 Mercer County

File at the Mercer County Probate Court, 101 North Main Street, Suite 307, Celina, OH 45822. The Probate division (part of the combined Probate/Juvenile Court) is open Monday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM; you can reach the Probate Clerk at (419) 586-8779 (fax (419) 586-4506).
Mercer County's Probate division uses the Supreme Court of Ohio's standardized probate forms, and the court also posts an adoptions page (https://mercercountycourts.com/adoptions.php); the current local adoption packet is available from the Probate Clerk. Always download the current version before you file.
The Probate Court (Judge Matthew L. Gilmore) is the division with exclusive jurisdiction over adoptions (R.C. Chapter 3107) — it is separate from the Common Pleas court that handles divorces. Bring adoption and name-change questions to the Probate Clerk at (419) 586-8779.
Probate filing deposits are published on the court's security-deposit schedule (https://mercercountycourts.com/securityDeposits.php). The amounts below come from that schedule; confirm the current figure with the Probate Clerk before you file.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file an adoption in Mercer County?: Adoptions are filed in the Mercer County Probate Court at 101 North Main Street, Suite 307, Celina, OH 45822, before Judge Matthew L. Gilmore. The office is open Monday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, and you can reach the Probate Clerk at (419) 586-8779.
How much is a stepparent adoption in Mercer County?: The court's security-deposit schedule lists a stepparent adoption at $220.00. Other types are $325.00 (agency/private with placement), $230.00 (without placement), and $180.00 (adult). Confirm the current amount on the court's deposit schedule or by calling (419) 586-8779.
Which forms do I need to adopt in Mercer 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. Mercer County uses the Supreme Court of Ohio's standardized probate forms, and the court also posts an adoptions page with the current local packet from the Probate Clerk.
Who is allowed to adopt in Mercer County?: Under the Probate Division's local rule, Mercer County allows adoption by unmarried adults, a married adult without the other spouse joining, and stepparents, grandparents, adult siblings, legal custodians, and guardians. Ask the Probate Clerk if you are unsure whether your situation qualifies.
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 (within 14 days if the child was under one year old at filing, or 28 days if one year or older) and appear, or the adoption may proceed.
Will I need a home study?: Yes. A home study by a qualified assessor is required in every Mercer County adoption, regardless of type. The court will tell you what your case needs and may appoint an assessor.
Can I adopt an adult in Mercer 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 court's deposit schedule lists an adult adoption at $180.00.
Do I need a lawyer to adopt in Mercer County?: By statute, only an attorney or a licensed agency may arrange an adoption, though the Probate Court's local rule permits pro se filing and the court may allow you to proceed without an agency in a stepparent or adult adoption. 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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