How do I adopt an adult in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, you adopt an adult by filing a petition for adoption in the Circuit Court of the county where you live, and the adult being adopted gives their own consent. Kentucky's statute says an adult over 18 may be adopted in the same manner as a child and with the same legal effect (KRS 405.390).

Who can be adopted and who can adopt: Kentucky sets no relationship condition for adopting an adult. Any person who is 18 or older may adopt (KRS § 199.470). No age gap between adopter and adult adoptee is stated. If your situation involves a close age difference, the Circuit Court clerk can confirm how it is handled.

Consent: For an adult adoption, the adult's own consent alone is required. Parental consent is not part of the adult process. Under the child procedure, a petitioner's spouse must join the petition unless married to the adoptee's biological parent. Whether that rule applies to an adult adoption is not spelled out, so ask the clerk or an attorney if you are married.

Residency: Kentucky residents have no waiting period. Non-residents need 12 months in the state before filing (KRS § 199.470).

Which court: File in the Circuit Court of the county where you, the adopting person, live. Kentucky has 120 counties, and each clerk's office can explain local filing details.

Home study: The home-study rules are written for minor children, and the statutes do not clearly say whether an adult adoption requires one (KRS 199.510). Ask the Circuit Court clerk in your county whether the judge will expect one.

The hearing: The case is handled like a child adoption. That means a hearing in chambers with at least one adopting parent present (KRS 199.515), and the judgment follows the hearing (KRS 199.520).

Inheritance: Under Kentucky law, an adoptee counts as the adopters' child for inheritance and succession only if adopted and living in the adopters' household before age 18 (KRS 199.520(2)(b)). An adult adoption therefore may not give inheritance rights the way people often assume. If estate planning is your reason for adopting, talk with an attorney about your specific situation.

Timeline and cost:

• Adult adoptions in Kentucky typically take about 4-8 weeks.
• Court filing fees generally run $150-$300.
• The total typically comes to under $1,000, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ when hiring an attorney.

After the judgment: If you want to update a birth certificate, the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics is the agency to ask about its process.

Steps to get started:

• Confirm you live in the county where you will file, or me