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I am an adoption social worker in Ohio. If you and your potential birth mother decide to use an agency in Ohio to do the placement, then the earliest she can sign the permanent surrender is seventy-two hours after the baby's birth. (Provided she has met with and completed paperwork with a certified adoption assessor in Ohio). She does not have to appear before a judge. The surrender is permanent. Where the paperwork is signed is decided by the birth mother. She could choose to sign at the hospital, her home, or anywhere she chooses. Ohio has a putative father registry. A birth father has thirty days from the baby's birth to register. If he registers, then the case would potentially be heard by a judge. If he does not register, his rights are permanently terminated on the thirty-first day. If the birth father is involved, he too must wait seventy-two hours before signing and must meet with an assessor. Hope this information helps. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions about Ohio adoption law. I will help however I can. Good luck!
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