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(ren) can 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 within 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.

• Online registration may be completed at: https://pfr-pub-jfs.ohio.gov/. 
• Written registration must be completed on the JFS 01694 located at: www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/inter.asp.  The JFS 01694 may be submitted through email or the United States Postal Services. 
  
  

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.  

• Online request to conduct a search may be completed at:https://pfr-pub.jfs.ohio.gov/. 
• Written requests for a search must be completed on the JFS 01695 located at: www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/inter.asp.  The JFS 01695 must be submitted through email or the United States Postal Service. 

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?  

In Ohio, if a woman is married at the time of birth or at any time during the 300 days prior to birth, the husband is presumed to be the natural father of the child unless paternity is established for the biological father. If a child’s parents are not married to each other when the child is born, that child does not have a legal father. Paternity must be established to create a legal relationship between a father and child and before the father’s name can appear on the birth certificate. For unmarried parents in Ohio, paternity can be established one of three ways:
1. Completing and signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit
2. Genetic testing, followed by an Administrative Order Establishment of Paternity at your local child support enforcement agency
3. A court order of paternity

To learn more about establishing paternity, visit the Ohio paternity website at:  www.oh-paternity.com  or call 888-810-6446  

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.