Title LI, Unified Juvenile Code

In the case of a child who has become a ward of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services as a result of a termination of parental rights judgment entered against the child's parents, and who remains a ward of the cabinet upon attainment of his or her eighteenth birthday, the ca…

(1) A petition for the voluntary termination of parental rights shall be entitled "In the interest of..., a child." The petition may be filed by a parent or counsel when the appearance-waiver and consent-to-adopt forms are signed by the parent, counsel, and cabinet representative…

Chapter 620 -- Parental election -- Consent form -- Definition. (1) As used in this section, "voluntary and informed" means that at the time of the execution of the consent, the consenting person was fully informed of the legal effect of the consent, that the consenting person wa…

rights for purpose of adoption -- Expenses paid by prospective adoptive parents to be submitted to court -- Penalty. (1) A parent desiring the termination of his or her parental rights and a transfer of the parental rights to a person, persons, the cabinet, or a child-placing age…

(1) In a voluntary termination proceeding, an attorney shall not represent both the biological parents and the prospective adoptive parents. (2) Any person who violates subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(1) The parties to an action for voluntary termination of parental rights shall be the parent seeking termination, whose presence is not required if represented by counsel for the parent when an appearance-waiver and consent-to-adopt form is filed with the court, but the court sh…

(1) Within three (3) days after a petition for the voluntary termination of parental rights is filed, the Circuit Court shall set a date for a hearing which shall not be more than thirty (30) calendar days after the petition is filed. In any case in which the child's permanent cu…

(1) If the Circuit Court determines that parental rights are to be voluntarily terminated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, it shall make an order terminating all parental rights and obligations of the parent and releasing the child from all legal obligations to …

Following the entry of an order voluntarily terminating parental rights in a child, the child shall retain the right to inherit from his parent under the laws of descent and distribution until the child is adopted.

(1) Any order resulting from the voluntary termination of parental rights of any person under the provisions of this chapter, including the caption of the order, shall contain only the name of the child, without any reference to the names of the parents whose rights have been ter…

Any order for the voluntary termination of parental rights shall be conclusive and binding on all parties.

(1) A petition for involuntary termination of parental rights shall be entitled "In the interest of ..., a child." (2) The petition shall be filed in the Circuit Court for any of the following counties: (a) The county in which either parent resides or may be found; (b) The county…

(1) In addition to the child, the following shall be the parties in an action for involuntary termination of parental rights: (a) The petitioner; (b) The cabinet, if not the petitioner; and (c) The biological parents, if known and if their rights have not been previously terminat…

(1) The putative father of a child shall be made a party and brought before the circuit court in the same manner as any other party to an involuntary termination action if one (1) of the following conditions exists: (a) He is known and voluntarily identified by the mother by affi…

(1) In any action for involuntary termination of parental rights, service upon the parties shall be accomplished by personal service where possible or constructive service where personal service is not possible, pursuant to the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure. (2) No service sh…

In any involuntary action for termination of parental rights: (1) The Circuit Court shall conduct a private hearing. An official stenographic or mechanical record shall be made of the proceedings and retained for a period of five (5) years. The court shall make findings of fact a…

until October 1, 2026) (1) The Circuit Court may involuntarily terminate all parental rights of a parent of a named child, if the Circuit Court finds from the record by clear and convincing evidence that: (a) 1. The child has been adjudged to be an abused or neglected child, as d…

(1) If the Circuit Court determines that parental rights are to be terminated involuntarily in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, it shall enter an order that the termination of parental rights and the transfer of custody are in the best interest of the child, and th…

Following the entry of an order involuntarily terminating parental rights in a child, the child shall retain the right to inherit from his parent under the laws of descent and distribution until the child is adopted.

(1) Any order resulting from the involuntary termination of parental rights of any person under the provisions of this chapter, including the caption of the order, shall contain only the name of the child, without any reference to the names of the parents whose rights have been t…

Any order for the involuntary termination of parental rights shall be conclusive and binding on all parties, except that an appeal may be taken from a judgment or order of the Circuit Court involuntarily terminating parental rights in accordance with the Kentucky Rules of Civil P…

Data collection and annual report requirements. (1) By December 1, 2026, and annually thereafter until December 1, 2029, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall collect data from each Circuit Court detailing the length of time that lapses from the filing of each petition fo…

The cabinet shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter.

In addition to those purposes set forth in KRS 600.010, this chapter shall be interpreted and construed to effectuate the following purposes regarding status offenders: (1) The Commonwealth's courts shall utilize a separate and distinct set of guidelines for status offenders whic…

The court shall have exclusive jurisdiction in proceedings concerning any child living, or found within the district, who allegedly: (1) Has been an habitual runaway from his parent or person exercising custodial control or supervision of the child; (2) Is beyond the control of t…

officer. Under the provisions of this chapter a child may be taken into custody by any peace officer: (1) Pursuant to an order of the court for failure to appear before the court for a previous status offense; or (2) If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the child has b…

Any person taking a child into custody, with all reasonable speed, shall in this sequence: (1) Deliver the child suffering from a physical condition or illness which requires prompt medical treatment to a medical facility or physician. Children suspected of having a mental or emo…

Before commencing any judicial proceedings on any complaint alleging the commission of a status offense, except as permitted under KRS 610.030(7), the party or parties seeking such court action shall meet for a conference with a court-designated worker for the express purpose of …

(1) Information supplied by the child to a court designated worker during any process prior to the filing of the petition shall be deemed confidential and shall not be subject to subpoena or to disclosure without the written consent of the child. (2) No complaint shall be receive…

A status offender shall not be placed in a secure juvenile detention facility or juvenile holding facility as a means or form of punishment except in accordance with KRS 630.095, following a finding that the status offender has violated a valid court order.

Limitation on detention of child. (1) (a) In order for the court to detain a child after the detention hearing, the Commonwealth shall establish probable cause at the detention hearing that the child is a status offender and that further detention of the child is necessary for th…

(1) A child who is alleged to be a status offender, adjudicated as a status offender, or a status offender alleged or found to have violated a valid court order may be detained as follows: (a) A child who is under fourteen (14) years old shall not be detained in a secure juvenile…

certain alcohol and tobacco offenses. (1) All dispositional hearings conducted under this chapter shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of KRS 610.060 and 610.070. In addition, the court shall, at the time the dispositional order is issued: (a) Give the child adequ…

human trafficking. If reasonable cause exists to believe the child is a victim of human trafficking, as defined in KRS 529.010, the child shall not be charged with or adjudicated guilty of a status offense related to conduct arising from the human trafficking of the child unless …

The cabinet may promulgate administrative regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter.

(1) Any child committed to the cabinet who is placed on supervised placement from a residential treatment facility by the cabinet and who violates the terms or conditions of supervised placement may be taken into custody and returned to active custody of the cabinet by any probat…

Notwithstanding any provision of KRS Chapter 520 to the contrary, no child accused of being or who has been adjudicated as a status offender or who has been accused of or held in contempt of court based upon an underlying finding that the child is a status offender who is absent …

Any person who intentionally violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

(1) The county attorney shall cause a review to be made of each complaint alleging that a public offense has been committed. The purpose of this review shall be to determine from the available evidence whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that the alleged facts would c…

(1) If, prior to an adjudicatory hearing, there is a reasonable cause to believe that a child before the court has committed a felony other than those described in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a misdemeanor, or a violation, the court shall initially proceed in accorda…

Hearing. (1) Upon motion of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the sentencing Circuit Court may, after notice and hearing, order a youth, transferred under KRS 635.020(4), committed to an adult facility operated by the Department of Corrections if it is established by a preponde…

No adjudication by a juvenile session of District Court shall be deemed a conviction, nor shall such adjudication operate to impose any of the civil disabilities ordinarily resulting from a criminal conviction, nor shall any child be found guilty or be deemed a criminal by reason…

After adjudication, a determination by the court that a child shall be detained pending disposition shall be based on a finding of the court by a preponderance of the evidence that the circumstances surrounding the child are such as to endanger his safety or welfare or that of th…

No child who is found to be in contempt of court shall be committed as a public offender as a result of such finding, nor detained because of such finding in a facility other than a secure juvenile detention facility, youth alternative center, an alternative to detention program …

committed child. If in its decree the juvenile court finds that the child comes within the purview of this chapter, the court, at the dispositional hearing, may impose any combination of the following, except that the court shall, if a validated risk and needs assessment tool is …

The Department of Juvenile Justice may discharge the child from commitment after providing fourteen (14) days' prior written notice to the committing court, to the legal representative of the child, and to the county attorney of the county in which the committing court presides, …

orders. (1) If a child who has not reached his eighteenth birthday commits a new offense while under the jurisdiction of the court or during the period of commitment, the court of the county where the new offense is committed shall have jurisdiction of the new offense for purpose…

(1) A juvenile convicted of or adjudged delinquent of three (3) or more offenses, other than violations or status offenses, by the juvenile session of District Court, shall be retained under the jurisdiction and supervision of the court with regard to the commission of that offen…

(1) In lieu of commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice, if a child is adjudicated a public offender, the court may in its discretion impose a fine. The imposition of a fine for an offense committed by a child shall be based upon a determination that such disposition is i…

Commitment to Department of Juvenile Justice. (1) If the court chooses to treat the child as other than a youthful offender, if the Commonwealth fails to prove the criteria bringing a case under KRS Chapter 640, or if the county attorney elects not to proceed under KRS Chapter 64…