NOTICE OF HEARING
**LEGAL NOTICE**
PROBATE COURT OF STARK COUNTY, OHIO
HONORABLE CURT WERREN
ADOPTION OF KAIN ALEXANDER SMITH
CASE NO: 255643
NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR ADOPTION
TO: CLIFTON SMITH, UNKNOWN ADDRESS
You are hereby notified that on the 22nd day of April 2026, Christopher Michael DePasquale filed in this Court a Petition for the Adoption of Kain Alexander Smith, a minor, whose date of birth is 06/28/2010, and for the change of the name of the minor to Kain Alexander DePasquale. This Court, located at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 501, Canton, Ohio 44702 will hear the petition on the 6th day of July, 2026, at nine (9) o'clock A.M.
It is alleged in the petition, pursuant to R.C. 3107.07, that the consent of Clifton Smith is not required DUE to the following:
(a) That person is a parent who has failed without justifiable cause to provide more than de minimis contact with the minor for a period of at least one year immediately preceding the filing of the adoption petition or the placement of the minor in the home of the petitioner.
(b) That person is a parent who has failed without justifiable cause to provide for the maintenance and support of the minor as required by law or judicial decree for a period of at least one year immediately preceding the filing of the adoption petition or the placement of the minor in the home of the petitioner.
"A FINAL DECREE OF ADOPTION, IF GRANTED, WILL RELIEVE YOU OF ALL PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO CONTACT THE MINOR, AND EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO A SPOUSE OF THE ADOPTION PETITIONER AND RELATIVES OF THAT SPOUSE, TERMINATE ALL LEGAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE MINOR AND YOU, AND THE MINORS' OTHER RELATIVES, SO THAT THE MINOR THEREAFTER IS A STRANGER TO YOU AND THE MINOR'S FORMER RELATIVES FOR ALL PURPOSES. IF YOU WISH TO CONTEST THE ADOPTION, YOU MUST FILE AN OBJECTION TO THE PETITION WITHIN 14 DAYS AFTER PROOF OF SERVICE OF NOTICE OF THE FILING OF THE PETITION AND ONCE THE TIME AND PLACE OF HEARING IS GIVEN TO YOU. IF YOU WISH TO CONTEST THE ADOPTION, YOU MUST ALSO APPEAR AT THE HEARING. A FINAL DECREE OF ADOPTION MAY BE ENTERED IF YOU FAIL TO FILE AN OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION PETITION OR APPEAR AT THE HEARING."
CURT WERREN, PROBATE JUDGE
May 8, 15, 22 2026
LWOO0511958