(A) Any minor may be adopted.

(B) An adult may be adopted under any of the following conditions:

(1) If the adult is totally or permanently disabled;

(2) If the adult is determined to be a person with an intellectual disability;

(3) If the adult had established a child-foster caregiver, kinship caregiver, or child-stepparent relationship with the petitioners as a minor, and the adult consents to the adoption;

(4) If the adult was, at the time of the adult's eighteenth birthday, in the permanent custody of or in a planned permanent living arrangement with a public children services agency or a private child placing agency, and the adult consents to the adoption;

(5) If the adult is the child of the spouse of the petitioner, and the adult consents to the adoption.

(C) When proceedings to adopt a minor are initiated by the filing of a petition, and the eighteenth birthday of the minor occurs prior to the decision of the court, the court shall require the person who is to be adopted to submit a written statement of consent or objection to the adoption. If an objection is submitted, the petition shall be dismissed, and if a consent is submitted, the court shall proceed with the case, and may issue an interlocutory order or final decree of adoption.

(D) Any physical examination of the individual to be adopted as part of or in contemplation of a petition to adopt may be conducted by any health professional authorized by the Revised Code to perform physical examinations, including a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife. Any written documentation of the physical examination shall be completed by the healthcare professional who conducted the examination.

(E) An adult who consents to an adoption pursuant to division (B)(4) of this section shall provide the court with the name and contact information of the public children services agency or private child placing agency that had permanent custody of or a planned permanent living arrangement with that adult. The petitioner shall request verification from the agency as to whether the adult was or was not in the permanent custody of or in a planned permanent living arrangement with that agency at the time of the adult's eighteenth birthday and provide the verification to the court.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Developmental disability" has the same meaning as in section 5123.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Kinship caregiver" has the same meaning as in section 5101.85 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Permanent custody" and "planned permanent living arrangement" have the same meanings as in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 158, §1, eff. 10/12/2016.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.37, HB 92, §1, eff. 9/30/2011.

Effective Date: 03-31-2003; 09-21-2006