Adoption in Paulding County Probate Court

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 16, 2026

You file a petition for adoption in the Paulding County Probate Court at 115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879. A minor adoption begins with Form 18.0 (Petition for Adoption of Minor); an adult adoption uses Form 19.0; and a foreign adoption is recognized with Form 19.2. You file the child's birth record and the required consents (Form 18.3), the court sets a hearing and orders notice (Form 18.1), and a home study or assessment is generally required (stepparent cases may be streamlined). After the hearing the judge 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).

Paulding County Probate Court

115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879. Phone (419) 399-8256, fax (419) 399-8261. Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Court website. Probate fee 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 adopting a minor through a licensed agency or a private placement and need to file in Paulding 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 to confirm whose consent is required, or ask the court to find 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

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 Paulding 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 Paulding County?

Adoption of a minor (18.x forms)

These are the core Ohio standardized forms for adopting a child. Paulding County also posts its probate forms here: https://www.pauldingjuvenilecourt.com/probate-court-forms/

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 Paulding County Probate Court's published fee schedule sets separate adoption deposits for a stepparent adoption, an agency adoption, a foreign, private, or pre-placement adoption, and an adult adoption. Confirm the current amount on the court's fee page (https://www.pauldingjuvenilecourt.com/probate-court-fees/) or by calling (419) 399-8256 before you file.

How does an adoption move through the Paulding 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.
  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) — unless the court finds consent is not required under R.C. 3107.07 (Form 18.4).
  3. File the petition and pay the deposit File your petition (Form 18.0, 19.0, or 19.2) at the Paulding County Probate Court, 115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879, and pay the filing fee from the court's fee schedule (the amount depends on whether the adoption is a stepparent, agency, foreign/private/pre-placement, or adult adoption).
  4. Complete a home study or assessment if required A home study or pre-finalization assessment is generally required, though stepparent cases may be streamlined. 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). At the hearing the judge reviews the petition, the consents, and any 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 Paulding County Probate Court before I file?
  • File at the Paulding County Probate Court, 115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879. The Probate & Juvenile Court office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM; you can reach the Probate division at (419) 399-8256 (fax (419) 399-8261).
  • Paulding County's Probate division uses the Supreme Court of Ohio's standardized probate forms, and the court also posts its own probate forms page (https://www.pauldingjuvenilecourt.com/probate-court-forms/). Always download the current version before you file.
  • The Probate Court is a separate division from the Common Pleas court that handles divorces — bring adoption and name-change questions to the Probate Court at (419) 399-8256.
  • Probate filing fees are published on the court's fee schedule (https://www.pauldingjuvenilecourt.com/probate-court-fees/). The amounts below come from that schedule; confirm the current figure with the Probate Court before you file.
Where do I file an adoption in Paulding County?
Adoptions are filed in the Paulding County Probate Court at 115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, and you can reach the Probate division at (419) 399-8256.
How much is a stepparent adoption in Paulding County?
The court's fee schedule sets separate deposits for a stepparent adoption, an agency adoption, a foreign, private, or pre-placement adoption, and an adult adoption. Confirm the current amount on the court's fee page or by calling (419) 399-8256.
Which forms do I need to adopt in Paulding 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. Paulding uses the Supreme Court of Ohio's standardized probate forms, and the court also posts its own probate forms page.
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) unless it finds that consent is not required — for example, under R.C. 3107.07, when a parent has failed to support or communicate with the child for the statutory period (Form 18.4).
Will I need a home study?
A home study or pre-finalization assessment is generally required, although stepparent cases may be streamlined. Requirements vary by case, so confirm what applies to yours with the Probate Court.
Can I adopt an adult in Paulding 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 fee schedule sets a separate deposit for an adult adoption; confirm the current amount with the Probate Court.
How do I get Ohio to recognize an adoption I completed abroad?
File Form 19.2 (Petition to Recognize Foreign Adoption) in the Paulding 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 lawyer to adopt in Paulding 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.

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