Who is a putative father?
A man, including one under age eighteen, who may be a child's father and to whom all the following apply:
- He is not married to the child's mother at the time of the child's conception or birth;
- He has not adopted the child;
- He has not acknowledged paternity of the child through a paternity affidavit or the child's birth certificate before the filing of an adoption petition for the child; and
- He has not been determined, prior to the date a petition to adopt the child is filed, to have a parent-child relationship with the child by a court proceeding.
What is the Ohio Putative Father Registry?
The Ohio Putative Father Registry (OPFR) is a computerized
database maintained by the Ohio Department of Job and Family
Services. The OPFR allows a male to register if he believes he may
have fathered a child and wants to be notified if the child is
placed for adoption.
The OPFR is routinely searched as part of the process to
determine whether a child ican be legally adopted. If a child is placed for adoption and a putative father is listed in the registry, the putative father will be notified via mail with the information of the agency that is attempting to move forward with the adoption. The putative father may seek legal counsel regarding his parental rights. The OPFR also helps interested parties identify if a potential putative father exists by submitting a request for a search to be conducted of the registry.
Who should register with the Ohio Putative Father Registry?
Any male who he may be the
father of an unborn child, or a child born within the last 15 days, should register with the OPFR. This includes an adult or a
minor who is less than 18 years old.
Why should a male register with the Ohio Putative Father Registry?
If the potential putative father does not register with the OPFR before or with 15 days after the birth of the child, the child could be legally adopted without the putative father's knowledge or consent.
How does someone register with the Ohio Putative Father Registry?
A potential putative father, or his representing attorney, may register online or in writing. The online or written registration must be received by the OPFR no later than 15 days after the child's birth.
- Email at OhioPFR@jfs.ohio.gov or United States Postal Services:
-
- The Ohio
Putative Father Registry
- Ohio
Department of Job and Family Service
- P.O. Box
183204
- Columbus, Ohio 43218-3204
Overnight
Delivery Address (USPS, Fed Ex, UPS):
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Ohio Putative Father Registry
4200 East Fifth Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43219
What information must be provided to register in the OPFR?
The putative father must provide
the following:
- Complete name;
- Current address;
- Name of the mother; and
- If known the name, sex and birth date of the
child. If the child’s date of birth is unknown, or the child has not yet been
born, the putative father must provide an estimated date of birth.
Additional information that may be
provided (if known) includes:
- The putative father’s and/or mother’s Social
Security number;
- The mother’s maiden name (if applicable); and
- The mother’s most recent address.
How often should an individual register with the Ohio Putative Father Registry?
A putative father should register his name for each child he believes he has fathered. Individuals may register more than once.
Is there a fee to register with the Ohio Putative Father Registry?
There is no fee to register with the putative father registry.
Who can request a search of the Ohio Putative Father Registry?
The mother of child, a public or private agency, or an attorney
arranging a child's adoption may request a search of the OPFR to
determine whether someone is registered as the child's putative
father. If a public children services agency or an attorney
representing a public children services agency is requesting the search, the date of
Termination of Parental Rights Hearing or the date of the Permanent
Custody Hearing must be provided on the request form.
How does someone request a search of the Ohio Putative Father Registry?
A requests to conduct a search of the OPFR may be submitted online or in writing. Results of the search will be sent via United States Postal Service to the requesting party, and if registered, the putative father.
Email at OhioPFR@jfs.ohio.gov or United States
Postal Service at:
The Ohio
Putative Father Registry
Ohio
Department of Job and Family Services
P.O. Box
183204
Columbus, Ohio 43218-3204
Overnight
Delivery Address (USPS, Fed Ex, UPS):
Ohio
Department of Job and Family Services
Ohio Putative
Father Registry
4200 E. Fifth
Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43219
What happens when a search of the Ohio Putative Father Registry locates a putative father?
All search results are sent through
United States Postal Service (USPS) from the Ohio Department of Job and Family
Services to the requesting party and the putative father. The putative father is
sent a notification letter of the search request along with the requesting
party’s contact information. It is the
putative father’s responsibility to contactthe party and/or obtain legal counsel. The party requesting the
search will receive notification via USPS of the timely registered putative
father for the child.
How does someone establish paternity?
If an individual would like to
begin the process of establishing paternity, he should obtain legal
representation or contact his county child support enforcement agency. http://www.jfs.ohio.gov/county/County_Directory.pdf.
How can a putative father obtain legal representation?
A putative father
may contact an attorney referral service or search for an attorney at: Ohio Legal Help http://ohiolegalhelp.org/.
What happens if a registered putative father moves? How can he update his information?
It is the responsibility of the
putative father to provide his new address to OPFR. The individual should provide OPFR his updated
address, complete name, and previous address through the following.
Telephone: (888) 313-3100
Email:
OhioPFR@jfs.ohio.gov or United States
Postal Service:
The Ohio
Putative Father Registry
Ohio
Department of Job and Family Services
P.O. Box
183204
Columbus, Ohio 43218-3204
Overnight
Delivery Address (USPS, Fed Ex, UPS):
Ohio
Department of Job and Family Services
Ohio Putative
Father Registry
4200 E. Fifth
Avenue
Columbus, OH
43219
Upon receipt of the new information
by ODJFS, the putative father’s information will be updated in the OPFR
database.
WHAT IF MY QUESTION
WASN’T ANSWERED HERE?
For additional questions regarding the Ohio Putative Father
Registry, please contact the OPFR toll-free at 1-888-313-3100 or
via email at: OhioPFR@jfs.ohio.gov.