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 step-parent 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 an adoption fellow in the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA), a credentialed international non-profit organization of 470 attorneys dedicated to the competent and ethical practice of adoption. Her extensive experience prior to her adoption practice included a variety of commercial defense work, ranging from premises liability to commercial insurance coverage as well as employer representation in mediations and workers’ compensation claims.

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Ruth T. Kelly
Attorney

(513) 632-0300

201 East Fifth St., Suite 1420
Cincinnati, OH 45402

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Ruth T Kelly ADOPT FELLOW-1

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

 

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

 

2016 Cincinnati Art Museum Gala Committee Member

2021-2022 HCU Network America State Ambassador (Ohio) Parent Advisory Committee

 

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

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"

 

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