Kentucky

Who may adopt?
Any person age 18 or older.
A resident for at least 12 months.
Husband and wife jointly.

Consent for adoption to be executed?
Consent is invalid if given prior to 72 hours after the child's birth.

Revocation of consent?
Consent shall become final 20 days after an approved placement is made, or 20 days after execution of the consent, whichever is later.

Who may place a child for adoption?
A licensed agency.
The State Cabinet.
All other persons must have permission of the Cabinet to place or receive a child.

Advertising?
A person, corporation, or association shall not advertise in any manner that it will receive children for the purpose of adoption. A newspaper published, prepared, sold, or distributed in the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall not contain an advertisement that solicits children for adoption or solicits the custody of children.

Facilitators?
No person, association, or organization, other than the Cabinet or a child-placing institution or agency, shall place a child or act as intermediary in the placement of a child for adoption or otherwise, except in the home of a stepparent, grandparent, sister, brother, aunt, or uncle, or upon written approval of the Secretary.
A person, organization, group, agency, or any legal entity, except a child-placing agency, shall not accept any fee for bringing the adoptive parents together with the child to be adopted or the biological parents of the child to be adopted. This section shall not interfere with the legitimate practice of law by an attorney.

Putative Father's Registry?
No.
The putative father is made a party, and is brought before the court in the same manner as any other party to a termination action if, prior to the final order in the termination proceeding, he acknowledges the child as his own by asserting paternity in the action, to the custodial agency, or the party bringing the action, within 60 days after the child's birth.
Notice is also required if the mother identifies him, his name is on the birth certificate, or he has contributed to the financial support of the child.
Only one of the requirements must be satisfied

Expenses?
Birth parent
Fees for legal services.
Cost of placement services.
Expenses of the birth parents.
Department/Agency - A child placing agency may charge a fee for adoption services.

Information provided in part by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Credits: Sandra Hanks Benoiton