Lake County Court of Common Pleas
 Probate Division

Ted Klammer, Probate Judge 

Lake County
Probate Court
25 North Park Place
Painesville, OH 44077

Phone:      (440) 350-2626
West End: (440) 918-2626
Fax:            (440) 350-2628
West End: (440) 918-2628


Hours of Service:
Monday-Friday
7:30 am to 5 pm*

*Closed on holidays
observed by
Lake County

REFINALIZATION ADOPTION

Procedure:

• Petitioner(s) are REQUIRED to have five (5) letters of recommendation at the time of filing for the adoption.
• Only two (2) of these letters are permitted to be from relatives on either side of the family.
• These letters are to be addressed to JUDGE TED KLAMMER, and MUST contain the address and signature of the writer.
• The letter should be sealed in its own envelope, and marked “personal and confidential”.
• At the time of filing we require all originals AND their translations from the foreign country. These will remain with the Court until the finalization hearing.
• PLEASE NOTE: THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET OR WE CANNOT ACCEPT YOUR PETITION.

• When you receive your hearing notice in the mail, you will also receive a form that has your Court appointed assessor’s name and phone number. Please contact the assessor as soon as possible. THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS YOURS!

• BCI&I-Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation
• Each petitioner is required to have a criminal background check completed in order to adopt. You must go to the Lake County Educational Service Center to have these prints taken.  There is a $30.00 fee for this service.  Information regarding the prints will be sent along with your hearing notice.  DO NOT complete the prints prior to filing for the adoption.

• FBI-Federal Bureau of Investigation – The State also requires a FBI check if the petitioner(s) has not been a resident of Ohio continuously for the last five (5) years. You must go to the Lake County Educational Service Center to have these prints taken.  There is a $35.00 fee for this service.  Information regarding the prints will be sent along with your hearing notice.  DO NOT complete the prints prior to filing for the adoption. 

• Information regarding your assessment
• Ohio law requires you to be placed under oath before the assessment begins.
• Each person in the household must be interviewed privately.
• The child/children will be asked if they want to be adopted (if you have questions about this, please discuss it with the assessor prior to your appointment).

• Items required for your assessment:
• a photo I.D. for the petitioner(s) and spouse, if any;
• a certified copy of the petitioner’s marriage license, if applicable;
• certified copies of any and all divorce papers;
• certified copies of support orders for children from previous marriages.

Forms: