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 set by the court's schedule. 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.

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

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 Mercer 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 Mercer County?

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

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.

The Mercer County Probate Court's published security-deposit schedule sets a separate deposit for a stepparent adoption, an agency or private adoption with or without placement, a refinalization, and an adult adoption. Confirm the current amount on the court's deposit schedule (https://mercercountycourts.com/securityDeposits.php) or by calling (419) 586-8779 before you file.

How does an adoption move through the Mercer County Probate Court, step by step?
  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. 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 (the amount depends on whether the adoption is a stepparent, agency or private, or adult adoption).
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  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), the original birth certificate is sealed, and a new birth record is issued.
What should I know about the Mercer County Probate Court before I file?
  • 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 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 fees 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.
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. 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 sets a separate deposit for a stepparent adoption, an agency or private adoption with or without placement, and an adult adoption. 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 sets a separate deposit for an adult adoption; confirm the current amount with the Probate Court.
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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