You have dreamed of adoption, but you are not sure where to begin. There are several adoption options available in Kentucky. Residents of Kentucky may adopt an infant domestically, an infant or older child internationally, or an older or special needs child from foster care.

Who May Adopt In Kentucky

You must be a Kentucky resident at least 21 one years old. You can be single, married, divorced, or widowed. You can have step children, birth children, adopted, foster children or adult children in your home. You can be a working couple, a working mother or father, a stay at home parent or retired.

Kentucky Infant Adoption

Infant adoptions in Kentucky are done through an adoption agency or an adoption attorney. It is important that you choose and agency or attorney that is licensed in Kentucky and has handled infant adoptions.

With the Safe Haven law passage, mother's can also take babies to a fire station, police station or EMS within 72 hours of the birth.

Kentucky Older Child Or Special Needs Adoption

Older children and special needs children are placed for adoption through the Kentucky Special Needs adoption program. These children are already in foster care for various reasons. Some children may have physical or emotional disabilities while others have had difficulty being adopted because of their age.

The process begins with completing a series of 10 meetings (30 hours total) that will help you understand the needs of the children and develop an understanding of how to meet those needs.

Kentucky families may choose to adopt through private adoption agencies. Home studies must be conducted by private adoption agencies licensed in Kentucky.

Kentucky International Adoption

There are many countries to adopt from and each company has its own regulations. Some countries will limit the age of the people that may adopt, and others have different lengths of time that you must remain in the country after you have taken custody of the child. Each country also has different regulations on the age of child that they will allow to be adopted. It is extremely important that you work with an adoption agency that is familiar with the laws of each country.

Kentucky Adoption Home Studies

A home study is completed no matter what type of adoption you pursue. A home study is somewhat like a job interview. Parenting is the most important job you will ever do, so the interview is extensive. A police record check of the domestic violence and child abuse databases, personal references and other paperwork are required. You will also discuss very personal details about your life with the worker doing the home study. Things like your job, your family stability, your childhood, and any parenting skills you have. This interview will also help you decide the bet type of adoption for you.

Kentucky Adoption Registry

If you are a parent who placed a child for adoption in Kentucky, or an adult who was adopted in Kentucky, it is now easier to gain information. Under Kentucky`s current law, the Department for Community Based Services is able to conduct birth parent searches and provide certain background information to adult adoptees, birth relatives and other professionals in the field of adoption.

Back to the main Kentucky Adoption page.