All prospective parents will need to meet a number of requirements to adopt in Kentucky. These requirements will vary based on the type of adoption you choose as well as the adoption agency you work with.

If you want to learn more about the different types of adoptions and their requirements, reach out to an adoption specialist today.

Adoption requirements exist to ensure that all hopeful adoptive parents are prepared to parent their new little one to the best of their ability. These requirements vary state-to-state, so its important that you do thorough research before diving into the adoption process.

Do you meet the requirements for adopting a child in Kentucky? These are the most frequently asked questions about adoption requirements, and the answers that you may find helpful in your own adoption process:

Do you have to be married to adopt in Kentucky?

No. An unmarried individual may adopt in Kentucky. If you’re married, you must adopt jointly, unless it’s a stepparent adoption.

However, most adoption professionals will have some preferences about whether or not individuals may adopt through their agency. For example, American Adoptions currently only works with couples who’ve been married at least two years, although exceptions have been made.

Call 1-800-ADOPTION to learn more about marriage and adoption requirements in Kentucky.

Can same-sex couples adopt in Kentucky?

LGBT individuals may adopt on their own, and married same-sex couples may also adopt jointly in Kentucky. Unmarried couples, including unmarried same-sex couples, aren’t permitted to do stepparent adoptions in Kentucky.

LGBT couples are welcome to become parents with American Adoptions. Call to learn more.

How old do you have to be to adopt in Kentucky? Is there an adoption age limit?

Kentucky adoption law states that you must be at least 18 years old to adopt, but there is no specified upper adoption age limit.

Again, individual adoption agencies will have their own age requirements to adopt in Kentucky. American Adoptions, for example, requests that adoptive parents be between 22 to 50 years old, although there have been exceptions. Kentucky foster care agencies have adoption requirements stating that foster parents must be at least 21.

Can a felon adopt a child in Kentucky?

All prospective adoptive parents must be cleared by a Kentucky-licensed adoption home study provider. Home studies conduct background checks, and any criminal offenses will be considered by your case worker and the court. The nature of a felony is taken into consideration, with the safety of your potential child as the highest priority. Hopeful adoptive parents who’ve been convicted of a felony may be approved by the court on an individual basis.

However, you’ll first need to apply through the adoption agency before you can begin the home study process, so contact us now to learn more.

What do I need to adopt a child in Kentucky? And how hard is it to adopt a baby?

Aside from the standard legal adoption requirements in Kentucky that you’ll need to meet in order to adopt, there are also other requirements you’ll want to consider, including:

Health Requirements to Adopt in KY

Adoptive parents will provide their home study professional with recent medical statements to ensure that they’re physically and mentally healthy enough to meet the demands of a new child.

Financial Adoption Requirements

You’ll also need to provide your home study professional with recent financial statements to ensure that you’re financially stable enough to take care of a child’s needs.

Emotional Requirements for Adopting

There are no documents that you can easily hand over that proves you’re emotionally ready to adopt. However, the emotional requirements to adopt in Kentucky might be the best indicator of adoption success. These requirements include:

• Dealing with any infertility grief.

• Leaving the dream of a biological baby to focus on your new dream of a baby through adoption.

• Learning more about the Kentucky adoption process so that you can be emotionally prepared for all that comes with it.

• Getting on the same page as your spouse about how you feel about adoption and parenthood, and the goals you have before moving forward together.

• Readying yourself for a relationship with your child’s birth family.

• Letting go of the expectations of biological parenthood and raising a biological child.

• Staying committed to adoption, and remaining excited throughout challenges.

To learn if you meet our agency's qualifications for adoption in Kentucky, contact us at 1-800-ADOPTION now to speak to an adoption specialist.

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