Tuesday, December 13th, 2016
Celina family finalizes the adoption of Maddy
By Jared Mauch
Submitted Photo
Brian and Kelly Anderson stand with family and supporters on Friday after the Mercer County Probate Court hearing to finalize their adoption of 2-year-old Maddy. In the group are, first row from left, Trey Anderson, Alex Anderson, Joel Anderson and Kate Anderson; second row, John Huffman, the birthmother's attorney; Molli Schleucher, Mercer County Guardian Ad-Litem; Mary Spurlock, Maddy's birth mother; Kelly Anderson; Breah Anderson; Aiden Anderson; and Judge James Rapp, who finalized the adoption; and third row, Maddy; Brian Anderson; Jay Anderson; Susan Eisenman, the Andersons' attorney; and Judge Mary Pat Zitter, who issued the adoptive placement order on March 31.
CELINA - Brian and Kelly Anderson have finalized the adoption of 2-year-old Maddy after a monthslong dispute with Allen County Children Services that went all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court.
The Andersons closed the adoption on Friday in Mercer County Probate Court after a best-interest hearing, Brian Anderson told the newspaper this morning.
A relative of Maddy contested the adoption during the hearing, Anderson said. However, visiting judge James Rapp ruled in the Andersons' favor.
"We're very happy that it's finalized and that there's closure to the case," he said.
Maddy, who had been placed with a relative in Indiana, was returned to the Andersons on Oct. 21 after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled on Oct. 20 that Mercer County had jurisdiction to proceed with the adoption.
In the 4-2 ruling, the justices said the Mercer County Common Pleas Probate Court "acted within its jurisdiction and in accordance with the statutory authority in placing the child for adoption with foster parents with the mother's consent."
"Since then, we've been waiting with anticipation for the adoption to be finalized," Anderson said.
The Ohio Supreme Court confirmed the birth mother's right to choose adoption for her child, he said.
The Andersons had been in a lengthly dispute with Allen County Children Services about which county had jurisdiction over the child's care and placement.
The custody battle sparked a local movement in support of the Andersons. "Bring Maddy Home" signs were displayed at various businesses and homes. Dinners, prayer gatherings and marches were organized as well as a social media campaign.
"Without the prayers and support that we received from our community, we would not have been able to continue fighting for what we firmly believed was in Maddy's best interests," Anderson said. "This case was a long, drawn-out process with litigation over many different facets, but due to the support and fundraisers that were held on behalf of our family and Maddy, we were able to continue fighting for what was right."
On March 31, the Andersons petitioned in Mercer County Common Pleas Probate Court to adopt Maddy, whom they had fostered. Maddy's birth mother on March 28 had applied to the court to place the child up for adoption with the Andersons. The court had approved the adoption.
However, Allen County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, on April 1 ruled that Allen County Children Services had authority over the child and Maddy was to stay with the Indiana family member pending further decisions, according to a document filed in the Ohio Supreme Court.
