Ohio Code § 3107.18

§ 3107.18.

(A) Except when giving effect to such a decree would violate the public policy of this

state, a court decree terminating the relationship of parent and child, or establishing

the relationship by adoption, issued pursuant to due process of law by a court of

any jurisdiction outside this state, whether within or outside the United States,

shall be recognized in this state, and the rights and obligations of the parties as

to all matters within the jurisdiction of this state, including, without limitation,

those matters specified in section 3107.15 of the Revised Code , shall be determined as though the decree were issued by a court of this state. (B)(1) A final judgment of adoption granted by a judicial, administrative, or executive

body of a jurisdiction or country other than the United States shall have the same

force and effect in this state as that given to a judgment of adoption entered by

a court of competent jurisdiction of this state, without additional proceedings or

documentation, if both of the following apply: (a) Either adopting parent is a resident of this state; (b) The validity of the foreign adoption has been verified by the granting of an IR-3,

IH-3, or a successor immigrant visa, for the child by the citizenship and immigration

services of the United States department of homeland security or its successor agency. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, an adoptive parent shall

not be required to petition a court in this state for adoption of the child, and the

foreign adoption shall be considered final under the laws of this state, if the conditions

of division (B)(1) of this section are met. (C) Either adoptive parent, a guardian, or a guardian ad litem may petition the court

of the county in which the person making the request resides to register a foreign

adoption in this state.  The court may specify a change of name for the child and, if a physician has recommended

a revision of the birth certificate, a revised birth date.  If the petition is granted, the court shall order the department of health to issue

a foreign birth record for the adopted person under section 3705.122 of the Revised Code .  The court shall send to the department with its order a copy of the foreign adoption

decree or certificate of adoption and, if the foreign decree or certificate of adoption

is not in English, a translation certified as to its accuracy by the translator and

provided by the person who requested the order.