Legal Question in Family Law in Kentucky

Re: termination of parental rights

The answers to your questions depend in large part upon the county in which you live. Ordinarily, you would file a petition for termination of parental rights in the Circuit Court; call the clerk in your county for instructions. Also, many circuit judges are unwilling to grant a termination of rights without a step-parent adopting the child. This insures that the child has two parents from which he or she can receive financial and emotional care. The procedure is rather complicated, and if you are applying yourself without a lawyer, you have to be sure to research and follow the applicable statute and prepare and file the necessary forms.

One final note: if your ex has not been adjudicated as the father in a paternity hearing, he has no parental rights anyway. If you receive child support or state aid, chances are that he has been determined to be the father.

Good luck.