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Who is a Putative Father?
A putative father is a man who may be a child's father, but who is not married
to the child's mother on or before the date that the child is born, or who has
not established paternity of the child in a court or administrative proceeding
or completed an acknowledgement of paternity affidavit before the filing of an
adoption petition for the child. If the mother of a child wants to place the
child for adoption, the putative father must take steps to show that he is the
legal father of that child in order to have the right to stop his child's
adoption.
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What is the Putative Father Registry?
The Putative Father Registry has been established to determine the identity and
location of an undisclosed putative father who may have conceived a child for
whom an adoption petition has been or may be filed in order to provide notice
of the adoption to the putative father. The Registry also facilitates
interested parties' efforts to identify a putative father through submission of
a request for a search to be conducted on the Putative Father Registry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Who should register with the Putative Father Registry
A man who thinks someone may be pregnant and he feels he may be the father
should register with the Registry. This includes a man or a minor who is less
than eighteen years of age:
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Who is not married to the child's mother at the time of the child's conception
or birth.
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Who has not acknowledged paternity of the child
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Who has not been determined to be the father of the child by a court proceeding
or an administrative agency proceeding in this or another state before the date
the child is to be adopted.
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How does a man register with the Putative Father Registry?
A man must fill out a written registration form, the JFS 01694 "Putative Father
Registry Registration Form." The Putative Father Registry form may be
retrieved online at www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/inter.asp.
The form may also be requested by contacting the Ohio Department of Job and
Family Services (ODJFS), toll free at 1-888-313-3100.
The local county children services agency, child support office or private
adoption agencies may also provide information regarding the Putative Father
Registry.
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What information must be included on the form entitled "Putative Father Registry
Registration Form" (JFS 01694)?
The putative father must provide his complete name, current residence address,
Social Security number (optional), name of the mother (including maiden name,
if known), mother's most recent address (if known), mother's Social Security
number (optional and if known), and the name, sex, and birth date of the child
(if known). If the man does not know the birth date of the child or if the
child has not yet been born, the putative father should give an estimated date
of delivery. The registration form must be notarized. Registry forms that are
not notarized are returned to the putative father.
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Where should the "Putative Father Registry Registration Form." (JFS 01694) form
be sent?
The form must be sent to the:
Putative Father Registry
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
255 E. Main Street, 3rd Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-5222
The registration must be received no later than 30 days after the child's birth
date
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Is there a fee to register with the Putative Father Registry?
There is no fee to register.
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What happens if a man does not register with the Putative Father Registry?
If a man does not register with the Putative Father Registry before the child's
birth or no later than 30 days after the child's birth, the child could be
permanently adopted without the putative father's knowledge or consent.
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How does a man begin the process to establish paternity?
If an individual would like to begin the process of establishing paternity, he
should obtain legal representation. In Ohio he may also contact the local
county child support enforcement agency (CSEA). The CSEA will provide the
individual with information regarding how to establish paternity. More
information regarding establishing paternity can be obtained through the child
support link at http://jfs.ohio.gov/Ocs/.
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How can the putative father obtain legal representation?
The putative father may call a lawyer referral service or access a listing of
lawyers at www.ohiolegalservices.org.
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What happens if a registered putative father moves to another state? How can he
update his information?
It is the responsibility of the putative father to provide his new address if
he moves to another location. If the putative father moves, he should mail a
letter to the Putative Father Registry that shows his complete name, old
address information, and the new address information. Ohio Department of Job
and Family Services will then delete the old address and add the new address
information to the Registry.
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How often should a man register with the Putative Father Registry?
A putative father may register his name more than once. If a man has multiple
relationships with the same person or more than one woman, he must register no
later than 30 days after a child's birth to be notified that the child, he may
have fathered, is being adopted.
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Other Questions:
For additional questions regarding the Putative Father Registry, please call
the Putative Father Registry toll free number at 1-888-313-3100 or contact the
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office for Children and Families
Help Desk at (866) 886-3537 (Option 4) or via e-mail at
help-desk-ocf@odjfs.state.oh.us |
