Cincinnati woman officially adopts her two boys through video call with judge

Hamilton County resident Emily Erdman didn't want the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic to push off the finalization of her two boys adoption.Erdman said she was ready to become a forever mom and didn't want to delay the adoption of her two boys and bring them to their forever home.Erdman was able to finalize her two boys, Qezz, 6, and Jah'heem, 4, adoption through Zoom with probate Judge Ralph Winkler.It was the first adoption finalized during the COVID-19 pandemic through Zoom. Erdman said she was concerned with how long it would be before the court would open again and wanted to make sure she could bring her boys home.She is on leave as an occupation therapy assistant, so the court offered her the option to finalize through Zoom. "It's a good opportunity for me to be home with my kids and keep us all safe," Erdman said.Qezz and Jah'heem officially became Erdman's last Tuesday, Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus said. "Stories like this renews our hope that we are not stuck and time and that life continues and sometimes life's most precious moments come during the most challenging times," Driehaus said.

Hamilton County resident Emily Erdman didn't want the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic to push off the finalization of her two boys adoption.

Erdman said she was ready to become a forever mom and didn't want to delay the adoption of her two boys and bring them to their forever home.


Erdman was able to finalize her two boys, Qezz, 6, and Jah'heem, 4, adoption through Zoom with probate Judge Ralph Winkler.

It was the first adoption finalized during the COVID-19 pandemic through Zoom.

Erdman said she was concerned with how long it would be before the court would open again and wanted to make sure she could bring her boys home.

She is on leave as an occupation therapy assistant, so the court offered her the option to finalize through Zoom.

"It's a good opportunity for me to be home with my kids and keep us all safe," Erdman said.

Qezz and Jah'heem officially became Erdman's last Tuesday, Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus said.

"Stories like this renews our hope that we are not stuck and time and that life continues and sometimes life's most precious moments come during the most challenging times," Driehaus said.