Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03 (2026)

Neglected child defined - failure to provide medical or surgical care for religious reasons

✓ current as of May 2026

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Effective:

August 3, 2006

Latest Legislation:

Senate Bill 17 - 126th General Assembly

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(A) As used in this chapter, "neglected child" includes any child:

(1) Who is abandoned by the child's parents, guardian, or custodian;

(2) Who lacks adequate parental care because of the faults or habits of the child's parents, guardian, or custodian;

(3) Whose parents, guardian, or custodian neglects the child or refuses to provide proper or necessary subsistence, education, medical or surgical care or treatment, or other care necessary for the child's health, morals, or well being;

(4) Whose parents, guardian, or custodian neglects the child or refuses to provide the special care made necessary by the child's mental condition;

(5) Whose parents, legal guardian, or custodian have placed or attempted to place the child in violation of sections 5103.16 and 5103.17 of the Revised Code;

(6) Who, because of the omission of the child's parents, guardian, or custodian, suffers physical or mental injury that harms or threatens to harm the child's health or welfare;

(7) Who is subjected to out-of-home care child neglect.

(B) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as subjecting a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child to criminal liability when, solely in the practice of religious beliefs, the parent, guardian, or custodian fails to provide adequate medical or surgical care or treatment for the child. This division does not abrogate or limit any person's responsibility under section 2151.421 of the Revised Code to report child abuse that is known or reasonably suspected or believed to have occurred, child neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed to have occurred, and children who are known to face or are reasonably suspected or believed to be facing a threat of suffering abuse or neglect and does not preclude any exercise of the authority of the state, any political subdivision, or any court to ensure that medical or surgical care or treatment is provided to a child when the child's health requires the provision of medical or surgical care or treatment.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 320 cases (128 in the last 5 years), 1954–2026 · leading case: In re William S., 661 N.E.2d 738 (Ohio 1996).

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In re William S., 661 N.E.2d 738 (Ohio 1996). · cites it 8× “031 of the Revised Code against the child, caused the child to suffer any neglect as described in section 2151.03 of the Revised Code, or allowed the child to suffer any neglect as described in section 2151.”

In re Riddle, 680 N.E.2d 1227 (Ohio 1997). · cites it 10× “was a neglected child under former R.C. 2151.03(A)(2), the trial court was required to find that the essential statutory elements were proven by clear and convincing evidence.”

In re C.T., 2018 Ohio 3823 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 9× “{¶ 54} In this case, the trial court found that JFS proved two of the allegations of neglect and dependency in its complaint.”

In re William S., 1996 Ohio 182 (Ohio 1996). · cites it 8× “031 of the Revised Code against the child, caused the child to suffer any neglect as described in section 2151.03 of the Revised Code, or allowed the child to suffer any neglect as described in section 2151.”

In Re Alexander C., 843 N.E.2d 211 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 6× “That the juvenile court erred in that the evidence lacked the clear and convincing standard that the children are neglected and dependent children pursuant to O.R.C. 2151.03 and 2151.04 [sic]. {¶ 5} “II.”

In Re A.J., 2016 Ohio 8196 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 4× “was a neglected child pursuant to R.C. 2151.03(A)(2) because of Brittany’s incarceration.”

In re C.S., 2012 Ohio 2884 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 9× “031(B), (C), and (D), neglected pursuant to R.C. 2151.03(A)(2) and (3), and dependent pursuant to R.”

In re Riddle, 1997 Ohio 391 (Ohio 1997). · cites it 12× “___________________ Charles E. McKnight, for appellant.”

In re S.D., 2020 Ohio 3379 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 6× “414(E)(3), the juvenile court considered whether either parent had committed any abuse against a child, or caused or allowed a child to suffer neglect as defined in R.C. 2151.03, between the date that the original 16 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS complaint alleging abuse…”

In Re L.W., 861 N.E.2d 546 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 4× “R.C. 2151.03 defines a "neglected child” as one "[w]ho lacks adequate parental care because of the faults or habits of the child’s parents, guardian, or custodian,” R.”

In re K.R., 2019 Ohio 2192 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 4× “031(D), neglected child pursuant to R.C. 2151.03(A)(2), and dependent child pursuant to R.”

In re W.M., 2022 Ohio 1978 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 4× “04(B), and neglected under R.C. 2151.03(A)(2). Further, the court found that the children could not be placed with mother within a reasonable time or should not be placed with mother under R.”

Show all 320 citing cases →

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A) — 20 cases

In re S.D., 2020 Ohio 3379 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “414(E)(3), the juvenile court considered whether either parent had committed any abuse against a child, or caused or allowed a child to suffer neglect as defined in R.C. 2151.03, between the date that the original 16 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS complaint alleging abuse…”

In Re Alexander C., 843 N.E.2d 211 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “That the juvenile court erred in that the evidence lacked the clear and convincing standard that the children are neglected and dependent children pursuant to O.R.C. 2151.03 and 2151.04 [sic]. {¶ 5} “II.”

In Re Eric Patterson, 730 N.E.2d 439 (Ohio Ct. App. 1999).

In Re Meyer, 648 N.E.2d 52 (Ohio Ct. App. 1994).

In re L.R., 2019 Ohio 1152 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(1) — 9 cases

Gonzalez v. Rodriguez, 2018 Ohio 2410 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).

Hernandez Caballero v. Hernandez Caballero, 2023 Ohio 1006 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).

In Re Tikyra A., 659 N.E.2d 867 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995).

In Re Blake, 786 N.E.2d 78 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003).

In re K.S., 2023 Ohio 1721 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(2) — 132 cases

In re Riddle, 680 N.E.2d 1227 (Ohio 1997). “was a neglected child under former R.C. 2151.03(A)(2), the trial court was required to find that the essential statutory elements were proven by clear and convincing evidence.”

In Re A.J., 2016 Ohio 8196 (Ohio 2016). “was a neglected child pursuant to R.C. 2151.03(A)(2) because of Brittany’s incarceration.”

In re C.T., 2018 Ohio 3823 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). “{¶ 54} In this case, the trial court found that JFS proved two of the allegations of neglect and dependency in its complaint.”

In re C.S., 2012 Ohio 2884 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “031(B), (C), and (D), neglected pursuant to R.C. 2151.03(A)(2) and (3), and dependent pursuant to R.”

In re Riddle, 1997 Ohio 391 (Ohio 1997). “___________________ Charles E. McKnight, for appellant.”

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(2)(4) — 1 case

In re K.C., 2025 Ohio 1110 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(3) — 33 cases

In re C.O., 2013 Ohio 5239 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).

In re L.W., 2019 Ohio 1343 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).

In re T.C., 2018 Ohio 4369 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).

In re C.G., 2019 Ohio 2102 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).

In re R.S., 2022 Ohio 4387 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(4) — 1 case

Quehl v. Roberts, 2025 Ohio 4742 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(5) — 1 case

In Re Proposed Adoption of a Child by Michael S., 722 N.E.2d 574 (Ohio Ct. App. 1998).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(6) — 6 cases

In re C.T., 2018 Ohio 3823 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). “{¶ 54} In this case, the trial court found that JFS proved two of the allegations of neglect and dependency in its complaint.”

In Re L.W., 861 N.E.2d 546 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). “R.C. 2151.03 defines a "neglected child” as one "[w]ho lacks adequate parental care because of the faults or habits of the child’s parents, guardian, or custodian,” R.”

In re M.T., 2020 Ohio 5493 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).

In re L.K., 2025 Ohio 5331 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).

In re I.S., 2022 Ohio 3923 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(B) — 15 cases

In Re Reese, 446 N.E.2d 482 (Ohio Ct. App. 1982).

In Re Burchfield, 555 N.E.2d 325 (Ohio Ct. App. 1988).

In Re Sims, 468 N.E.2d 111 (Ohio Ct. App. 1983).

In Re Schuerman, 599 N.E.2d 728 (Ohio Ct. App. 1991).

In re C.G., 2019 Ohio 2102 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(B)(C) — 2 cases

In Re Fleming, 600 N.E.2d 1112 (Ohio Ct. App. 1991).

In re B.R., 2021 Ohio 3150 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(D) — 5 cases

In re S.L., 2016 Ohio 5000 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).

In re J.R., 2018 Ohio 1474 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).

In re H.S., 2022 Ohio 506 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).

State ex rel. T.B. v. Brown, 2025 Ohio 4484 (Ohio 2025).

M.H. v. B.S., 2026 Ohio 1281 (Ohio Ct. App. 2026).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(F) — 1 case

In re R.W., 2024 Ohio 2223 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(b) — 4 cases

In re J.H., 2019 Ohio 5184 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).

In re K.M., 2011 Ohio 3632 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).

In re D.E., 2022 Ohio 1150 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).

In re J.H., 2019 Ohio 5185 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(b)(c) — 1 case

In re D.M., 2009 Ohio 4112 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(c) — 1 case

In re W.H., 2022 Ohio 121 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).

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