Caretaker Authorization Form

Caretaker Authorization Affidavit

(Use of this affidavit is authorized by sections 3109.65 to 3109.73 of the Ohio Revised Code.)

Completion of items 1-7 and the signing and notarization of this affidavit is sufficient to authorize the grandparent signing to exercise care, custody, and control of the child who is its subject, including authority to enroll the child in school, to discuss with the school district the child's educational progress, to consent to all school-related matters regarding the child, and to consent to medical, psychological, or dental treatment for the child.

The child named below lives in my home, I am 18 years of age or older, and I am the child's grandparent.

1. Name of child:

2. Child's date and year of birth:

3. Child's social security number (optional):

4. My name:

5. My home address:

6. My date and year of birth:

7. My Ohio driver's license number or identification card number:

8. Despite having made reasonable attempts, I am either:

(a) Unable to locate or contact the child's parents, or the child's guardian or custodian; or

(b) I am unable to locate or contact one of the child's parents and I am not required to contact the other parent because paternity has not been established; or

(c) I am unable to locate or contact one of the child's parents and I am not required to contact the other parent because there is a custody order regarding the child and one of the following is the case:

(i) The parent has been prohibited from receiving notice of a relocation; or

(ii) The parental rights of the parent have been terminated.

9. I hereby certify that this affidavit is not being executed for the purpose of enrolling the child in a school or school district so that the child may participate in the academic or interscholastic athletic programs provided by that school or district.

I understand that this document does not authorize a child support enforcement agency to redirect child support payments. I further understand that to have an existing child support order modified or a new child support order issued administrative or judicial proceedings must be initiated.

Warning: Do not sign this form if any of the above statements are incorrect. Falsification is a crime under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code, punishable by up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

I declare that the foregoing is true and correct:

State of Ohio )

) ss:

County of )

Subscribed, sworn to, and acknowledged before me this day of , .

Notices:

1. The grandparent's signature must be notarized by an Ohio notary public.

2. The grandparent who executed this affidavit must file it with the public children services agency of the county in which the grandparent resides not later than five days after the date it is executed.

3. A grandparent who executes a second or subsequent caretaker authorization affidavit regarding a child who is the subject of a prior caretaker authorization affidavit must file the affidavit with the juvenile court of the county in which the grandparent resides. On filing, the juvenile court will schedule a hearing to determine whether the caretaker authorization affidavit is in the child's best interest.

4. This affidavit does not affect the rights of the child's parents, guardian, or custodian regarding the care, custody, and control of the child, and does not give the grandparent legal custody of the child.

5. A person or entity that relies on this affidavit, in good faith, has no obligation to make any further inquiry or investigation.

6. This affidavit terminates on the occurrence of whichever of the following occurs first: (1) one year elapses following the date the affidavit is notarized; (2) the child ceases to live with the grandparent who signs this form; (3) the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child acts to negate, reverse, or otherwise disapprove an action or decision of the grandparent who signed this affidavit; or (4) the affidavit is terminated by court order; (5) the death of the child who is the subject of the affidavit; or (6) the death of the grandparent who executed the affidavit.

A parent, guardian, or custodian may negate, reverse, or disapprove a grandparent's action or decision only by delivering written notice of negation, reversal, or disapproval to the grandparent and the person acting on the grandparent's action or decision in reliance on this affidavit.

If this affidavit terminates other than by the death of the grandparent, the grandparent who signed this affidavit shall notify, in writing, all of the following:

(a) Any schools, health care providers, or health insurance coverage provider with which the child has been involved through the grandparent;

(b) Any other person or entity that has an ongoing relationship with the child or grandparent such that the person or entity would reasonably rely on the affidavit unless notified of the termination;

(c) The public children services agency in which the affidavit was filed after its creation.

The grandparent shall make the notifications not later than one week after the date the affidavit terminates.

7. The decision of a grandparent to consent to or to refuse medical treatment or school enrollment for a child is superseded by a contrary decision of a parent, custodian, or guardian of the child, unless the decision of the parent, guardian, or custodian would jeopardize the life, health, or safety of the child.

Additional information: To caretakers:

1. If the child stops living with you, you are required to notify, in writing, any school, health care provider, or health care insurance provider to which you have given this affidavit. You are also required to notify, in writing, any other person or entity that has an ongoing relationship with you or the child such that the person or entity would reasonably rely on the affidavit unless notified. The notifications must be made not later than one week after the child stops living with you.

2. If you do not have the information requested in item 7 (Ohio driver's license or identification card), provide another form of identification such as your social security number or medicaid number.

To school officials:

1. This affidavit, properly completed and notarized, authorizes the child in question to attend school in the district in which the grandparent who signed this affidavit resides and the grandparent is authorized to provide consent in all school-related matters and to discuss with the school district the child's educational progress. This affidavit does not preclude the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child from having access to all school records pertinent to the child.

2. The school district may require additional reasonable evidence that the grandparent lives at the address provided in item 5.

3. A school district or school official that reasonably and in good faith relies on this affidavit has no obligation to make any further inquiry or investigation.

4. The act of a parent, guardian, or custodian of the child to negate, reverse, or otherwise disapprove an action or decision of the grandparent who signed this affidavit constitutes termination of this affidavit. A parent, guardian, or custodian may negate, reverse, or disapprove a grandparent's action or decision only by delivering written notice of negation, reversal, or disapproval to the grandparent and the person acting on the grandparent's action or decision in reliance on this affidavit.

To health care providers:

1. A person or entity that acts in good faith reliance on a CARETAKER AUTHORIZATION AFFIDAVIT to provide medical, psychological, or dental treatment, without actual knowledge of facts contrary to those stated in the affidavit, is not subject to criminal liability or to civil liability to any person or entity, and is not subject to professional disciplinary action, solely for such reliance if the applicable portions of the form are completed and the grandparent's signature is notarized.

2. The decision of a grandparent, based on a CARETAKER AUTHORIZATION AFFIDAVIT, shall be honored by a health care facility or practitioner, school district, or school official unless the health care facility or practitioner or educational facility or official has actual knowledge that a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child has made a contravening decision to consent to or to refuse medical treatment for the child.

3. The act of a parent, guardian, or custodian of the child to negate, reverse, or otherwise disapprove an action or decision of the grandparent who signed this affidavit constitutes termination of this affidavit. A parent, guardian, or custodian may negate, reverse, or disapprove a grandparent's action or decision only by delivering written notice of negation, reversal, or disapproval to the grandparent and the person acting on the grandparent's action or decision in reliance on this affidavit.