MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Today, the probate court was filled with excited smiles and happy tears as families made it official on National Adoption Day.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00 p.m., National Adoption Day is about bringing attention to the number of kids in the care of children’s services, and the gift of adopting a child.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Locker room incident involving 6 students under investigation at local middle school
- Coroner identifies man killed in deadly shooting earlier this year
- Matchups announced for high school football playoff regional quarterfinals
There was not a dry eye inside Judge David Brannon’s Courtroom, as well as lots of smiles as the Kremers, all dressed in matching family jerseys, officially became one.
“I’m just happy to give them their forever home. We love them with all our hearts; they’ve been in our home, now it’s forever,” Kevin Kremer, the father, said.
Jennifer and Kevin Kremer went from having no kids to six.
The kids were placed in the care of Children’s Services in 2024. Now, today, their last name has officially changed to Kremer.
Judge Brannon said these hearings are typically closed to the public. But these families agreed to open these hearings to share just a small part of the process of adopting a child.
“It reaches many, many more people than just in this room today, and so I think that’s very special; it’s impactful,” Judge Brannon said.
A child named Dayton came into the care of his biological aunt and uncle, Brittany and Jeffrey Peters, when he was only five months old.
Monday in court, the judge asked the Peters why they wanted to adopt Dayton.
“There’s no reason to ever see a family member go through the system,” Jeffrey Peters said.
Peters said when they got the call that Dayton needed a home, they came to Ohio from Tennessee to get him.
“This court finds that all the necessary parties have been given notice or consented, and the conditions are very qualified to continue caring for Dayton. And it is in his best interest to approve the adoption; from this point forward he’ll be known as Dayton Allen Ray Peters. Congratulations,” Judge Brannon said in court.
Judge Brannon went on to describe today like a Disney movie, where everyone’s story starts differently, sometimes sad, but ends in happily ever after.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]