Understanding the child adoption laws in Kentucky can greatly increase your
chances of successfully adopting a child. Important legal concerns include the giving of support or gifts to a birth mother or birth father, fees paid to an adoption agency, attorney, or other intermediary, the legality of using an adoption facilitator,
the legal rights of the birth parents and the adopting family,
and the critical issues of a disruption and the ending the biological parental rights (called a Consent, Relinquishment or Surrender). For example,
using our most recent update, in Kentucky:
*A person, corporation, or association shall not advertise in any manner that it will receive children for the purpose of adoption.
*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.
*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.
*Birth Parent expenses allowed: Fees for legal services, cost of placement services and expenses of the birth parents.
*An adoption shall not be granted or a consent for adoption be held valid if the consent for adoption is given prior to 72 hours after the birth of the child.
*If placement approval by the secretary is required, the voluntary and informed consent shall become final and irrevocable 20 days the placement approval or the execution of the voluntary and informed consent, whichever is later. |
You may be looking for the differences in the waiting period, effort, cost,
and success rates involved in adopting children within your state or in other states (domestic adoption) or even from other countries (international
adoption) in order to determine which type of adoption will work for you. Some specific choices you may want to consider, as the waiting lists
tend to be shorter, are special needs adoption, bi-racial and trans-racial
adoption, and older children (generally from one to 15 years of age) from the Kentucky child welfare and foster care systems. The more open you are in the
type and age of child you are looking to adopt the better your chances of success. You should also decide before contacting an adoption agency whether you want an open
adoption or closed adoption. |
American Adoption Congress is composed of individuals, families and organizations committed to adoption reform.
Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA) is for families who have adopted, or are in the process of adoption, from Russia and former Soviet Union countries.
Families with Children from China is a non-denominational organization of families who have adopted children from China.
Guatemala Adoptive Families Network initiates and supports the adoption of Guatemalan children.
National Adoption Center attempts to facilitate the adoption of children in the U. S., particularly children with special needs and those from minority cultures.
North American Council on Adoptable Children is committed to meeting the needs of waiting children and the families who adopt them.
Our Chinese Daughters Foundation (OCDF) is a non-profit foundation that supports families with children adopted from China.
Resolve is dedicated to providing education, advocacy, and support to those who face infertility.
The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides information on all aspects of both domestic and international adoption. |
Adoption Support for Kentucky
Carrie Saunders
877-440-6376
Cumberland Adoption Support Group
Liz Lewis
606-877-7796
Eastern Mountain Adoption Support Group
Debbie Hensley
606-436-5649
Foster & Adoptive Families of Fayette County
1843 Donco Ct
Lexington, KY 40505
Phone: 859-299-2749
Friends of Black Children
3050 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40211
Phone: 502-778-2631
Jefferson Adoption Support Group
Theresa Daly
502-644-8059
National Foster Parent Association, Region 4 2110 Clay Street
Paducah, KY 42001
Northeastern Adoption Support Group
Mary-Ann Clarke
606-922-5287
Northern Bluegrass Adoption Support Group
Sharon Forton
859-380-7325
Salt River Trail Adoption Support Group
Susan Samples
502-921-0007
Southern Bluegrass Adoption Support Group
Melanie & Steve Tyner-Wilson
859-278-4991
The Lakes Adoption Support Group
Theresa Shell
270-988-2211
270-704-1953 (cell)
Two Rivers Adoptin Support Group
Tami and Billy Shain
270-685-9081
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