(A)The Ohio
putative father registry (OPFR), as defined in rule 5101:2-1-01 of the
Administrative Code, is designed to:
(1)Facilitate the
registration of putative fathers who want to be notified in the event that
their child may be placed for adoption.
(2)Facilitate
interested parties' efforts to identify a putative father through submission of
a request for a search to be conducted on the OPFR.
(B)When a putative
father contacts the public children services agency (PCSA) or private child
placing agency (PCPA), the PCSA or PCPA shall provide the JFS 01694 "Ohio
Putative Father Registry Registration for Fathers"
(rev. 3/2015) and the JFS 01694I "Instructions for Completing JFS
01694" (rev. 3/2015) to the putative father
or refer the putative father to the ODJFS putative father registry website, https://pfrpub.odjfs.state.oh.us/pfrweb/webforms/home.aspxhttps://pfr-pub.jfs.ohio.gov/.
(C)To register, a
putative father shall register online or complete the JFS 01694 and submit it
to the Ohio putative father registry at ODJFS.
(D)The putative
father may register prior to the birth of the child or within fifteen days
following the birth of the child.
(E)An attorney
arranging an adoption, a mother, a PCSA, a PCPA, or a private noncustodial
agency (PNA) may request a search of the OPFR by completing the JFS 01695
"Application for Search of Ohio Putative Father Registry" (rev. 3/2015) and submitting it to the Ohio putative
father registry at ODJFS or by submitting the request online via the ODJFS
putative father registry website, https://pfrpub.odjfs.state.oh.us/pfrweb/webforms/home.aspxhttps://pfr-pub.jfs.ohio.gov/.
(F)The PCSA or
PCPA shall determine if there is a putative father by doing the following:
(1)Work with the
mother to identify the name of the child's father and determine if either
parent is eligible for membership with an American Indian tribe.
(2)Contact the
Ohio putative father registry to request a search be conducted on the OPFR to
determine if the child's father is registered on the OPFR. A request for a
search of the OPFR may be made at any time. A final search of the OPFR shall be
made no sooner than sixteen days after the birth of the child.
(G) Any party
referenced in paragraph (E) of this rule may request the status of a final
search if results have not been received within seven business days of the date
the final request was submitted.
(H)The agency or
attorney is not required to search the OPFR for court proceedings on adoption
of a child if:
(1)The mother was
married at the time the child was born or conceived.
(2)The parent
placing the child previously adopted the child.
(3)Prior to the
date the petition to adopt the child is filed, a man has been determined to
have a parent and child relationship with the minor by:
(a)A court
proceeding pursuant to sections 3111.01 to 3111.18 of the Revised Code.
(b)A court
proceeding in another state.
(c)An
administrative agency proceeding pursuant to sections 3111.38 to 3111.54 of the
Revised Code.
(d)An
administrative agency proceeding in another state.
(e)A signed
acknowledgment pursuant to section 2151.232, 3111.25 or 3111.821 of the Revised
Code.
(4)The PCSA or
PCPA has permanent custody of the child pursuant to Chapter 2151. or division
(B) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code.
(I)The agency or
attorney arranging the adoption shall file the response received from the Ohio
putative father registry's office with the court prior to the issuance of the
final adoption decree or the interlocutory order of adoption.
Effective: 2/1/2021
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 10/26/2020 and 02/01/2026
Certification: CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY
Date: 01/13/2021
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3107.065, 5153.166
Rule Amplifies: 3107.061, 3107.0611, 3107.0612, 3107.0613, 3107.0614,
3107.062, 3107.064, 3107.067, 3107.068, 3107.069, 3107.07
Prior Effective Dates: 01/14/1983, 06/01/1985 (Emer.),
08/12/1985, 09/18/1996, 02/13/1998 (Emer.), 05/14/1998, 09/01/2003, 05/15/2009,
03/01/2011, 10/01/2014, 08/03/2015