Kentucky Adoption Laws

Adoption Laws in Kentucky

How to access adoption records?

• Obtain non identifying information:

  It is allowed for adopted adults as well as adopted parents if adoptee is a minor to get some information.

• Obtain identifying information:

  Adoptee of age 21 or more than that can formally request to court to start the search of his/her birth parents.

  In case the department is not at all able to find out the birth parent(s) of the adoptee, total decision of opening the records is of the court only.

• Obtain an original birth certificate:

  Adoptee have to petition the court in where the adoption process was done.

• Providing the information:

  The birth parent(s) or any of the birth sibling(s) may formally request for accessing the information by the adoptee, if he/she is of age 21 else parents of the adoptee related to the medical conditions, which may create problems to the physical as well as mental health of the adoptee.

Advertising used and facilitators in adoptive placements

• Advertisement used : Statute: Statute: - § 199.590(1)

  • Any of the newspaper sold or published in the public places of this state is not allowed to advertise about soliciting child adoption or the places providing the adoption.

  • No one, a person as well as any organization is allowed to advertise in any way about taking children for adoption purpose.

• Intermediaries or facilitators use : Statute: - § 199.590(3)

  • No one, a person, an organization, except the Cabinet or child placing agencies, can place child or act as an intermediate in placing the child for adoption.