(A) For the purpose of division (C) of section 3107.66 of the Revised Code, an agency or attorney that arranged an adoption shall provide the probate court that finalized the adoption with the agency's or attorney's records of the adoption when the agency or attorney permanently ceases to arrange adoptions.

If an agency permanently ceases to arrange adoptions because the person operating the agency has died or become incapacitated or the attorney ceases to arrange adoptions because the attorney has died or become incapacitated, the person responsible for disposing of the agency's or attorney's records shall provide the court with the adoption records. If no one is responsible for disposing of the records, the person responsible for administering the estate or managing the resources of the attorney or the person who operated the agency shall provide the court with the adoption records.

If the attorney who permanently ceases to arrange adoptions is in practice with another attorney, the attorney may provide the adoption records to the other attorney rather than the court if the other attorney agrees to act in the place of the first attorney for the purpose of section 3107.66 of the Revised Code. The person responsible for the practice of the first attorney shall provide the adoption records to the probate court that finalized the adoption when the practice no longer includes an attorney who agrees to act in the first attorney's place for the purpose of section 3107.66 of the Revised Code.

(B) A probate court that receives adoption records under division (A) of this section may transfer the records to a person or governmental entity that voluntarily accepts the records. If the court finds a person or governmental entity that accepts the adoption records, the court shall maintain a directory for the purpose of informing a person seeking the records where the records are held.

Effective Date: 09-18-1996 .