5101:2-48-02. Putative father registry

(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.aspx.

(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.aspx.

(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: 8/3/2015
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 05/14/2015 and 08/01/2020
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3107.065
Rule Amplifies: 3107.061, 3107.0611, 3107.0612, 3107.0613, 3107.0614, 3107.062, 3107.064, 3107.065 , 3107.067, 3107.068, 3107.069, 3107.07
Prior Effective Dates: 1/14/83, 6/1/85 (Emer.), 8/12/85, 9/18/96, 2/13/98(Emer.), 5/14/98, 9/1/03, 5/15/09, 3/1/11, 10/1/14