Ohio

Can a known donor renounce his legal obligations as a parent?

Yes; a donor has no legal rights if the statutory requirements of the donor law are met. However, in one case, an OH court found that a violation of the statutory requirements voided the known donor agreement between the parties.

What if a known donor attempts to enforce his parental rights when the original intent was to be a sperm donor only?

If the statutory requirements of the donor law are not followed correctly, a court may find the known donor to be a legal parent.

Does the state allow for second-parent adoption (i.e., for same-sex couples)?

No; however, the OH Supreme Court has ruled that a Juvenile Court has the authority to approve a shared-custody agreement, if it is in the best interests of the child.

Does the state allow for multiple-parent families (when the child has more than two adults in a parenting role)?

Unknown; this issue has not yet been addressed.

Does the state recognize “de-facto” or “psychological” parentage (of an “acting” parent without a biological connection) or a similar concept?

Possibly; OH Supreme Court has recognized a same-sex partner as a “de facto” parent.