ATTORNEY
Ruth T. Kelly
Ruth focuses her practice on adoption law. This practice includes prospective adoptive parent representation in private agency adoptions, foster adoptions as well as independent adoptions. She regularly represents birth parents as well. Ruth's practice also includes interstate adoptions (ICPC), Recognition (Re-Finalization) of Foreign Adoptions and stepparent adoptions. In 2021, Ruth was honored to be named as an "Angel in Adoption" by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. She was also recognized by Congressman Brad Wenstrup. This award honors individuals nationwide who make extraordinary contributions to adoption, permanency and child welfare. She is a past adoption fellow in the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA). She is a long-time member in the Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable (OALR). She regularly gives presentations on various adoption topics to other legal professionals at OALR conferences.
Get in Touch
Ruth T. Kelly
Attorney
(513) 632-0300
201 East Fifth St., Suite 1420
Cincinnati, OH 45402
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Adoption Law
State of Ohio
Commonwealth of Kentucky (inactive)
United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
Ohio State Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Adoption Fellow, Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (past)
Member, Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable
Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law, Law Review, 2004
Ohio Wesleyan University, Cum Laude, Economics and Spanish, 2000
Pregnancy Center East, Inc. Board Member (2008-2014)
Eden Center, Inc. Board Member (2013-2018)
Eve Center, LLC Board Member (2016-2019)
2015 Dress for Success Fashion Show and Luncheon Committee Member
2021-2022 HCU Network America State Ambassador (Ohio) Parent Advisory Committee
2016 Cincinnati Art Museum Gala Committee Member
2018 Cincinnati Art Museum Gala Committee Member
2020-21 Cincinnati Art Museum Gala Committee Member
2020 HCU Network America State Ambassador (Ohio) Parent Advisory Committee
2024 HCU Network America Conference Volunteer
2025 HCU Network American Gubernatorial Declaration Volunteer
Publications:
"Innocents and Offenders: A Survey of Children's Law in Kentucky" Northern Kentucky Law Review (2003)
"Trademark Infringement: High Fashion v. Google" Faruki Blog (Sept. 28, 2017)
"Limiting the Kinship Preference in Foster to Adopt Situations" Faruki Blog (June 5, 2019)
"No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem? Legal Professionalism in the Time of Zoom" Faruki Blog (May 7, 2020)
Presentations:
Presenter, 2020 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable: "Adoption & the Dangers of Social Media" & "Federal and State Case Law and Legislative Update"
Presenter, 2020 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable: "Adoption in State and Federal News"
Co-Presenter, 2017 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable, "Amicus Briefs -- A to Z"
Presenter, 2018 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable, "Sibling Rights"
Presenter, 2019 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable, "Zero Support Orders and Other 3107.07(A) Issues"
Presenter, 2019 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable, "Amicus Briefs and Tips"
Presentations Cont'd:
Presenter, 2019 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable, "Limiting the Kinship Preference"
Presenter, 2021 Ohio Adoption Law Round Table "Here We go Again", Legislative and Case Law Update
Presenter, 2021 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable "Re-Engineering Post Pandemic Adoption Practice", Legislative Update
Presenter, 2022 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable "Spring is Busting Out All Over the Place", Adoption Law Update
Presenter, October 2023 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable "The Hills are Alive and So is Adoption" Special Immigration Juvenile Status (SIJS)
Presenter, December 2023 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable "Holiday CLE" Looking Back on 25 years of Ethical Issues
Presenter, February 2024 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable "There Are Dragons in Our World and We Fight the Beasts Every Day" Effects of Prenatal Drug Exposure on Infants
Presenter, September 2025 Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable "Going Another Round with the Roundtable" Posthumous Adoptions