What if the biological parent sends a gift but has no other contact — is that abandonment in Kentucky?

A gift on its own doesn't give you a clear yes or no in Kentucky. Kentucky's abandonment ground, under KRS § 199.502, is tied to a period of 3 months (90 days) of no contact, and whether one gift interrupts that period is a question for the judge, based on your facts.

What Kentucky's rules do tell us: Kentucky has one of the shorter abandonment periods. Just 90 days of no contact can establish grounds to proceed. The question is what happened during that stretch: visits, calls, messages, support, or only a gift. Whether a gift counts as "contact" for this purpose is a point to confirm with the Circuit Court clerk in your county or with an attorney. Please don't assume either way.

Why the details matter: Your situation could look quite different depending on facts like these:

• When the gift arrived compared with the last real contact
• Whether the gift came with any call, message, or visit
• Whether the parent has tried to reach the child in any other way
• Whether the gift was sent to the child directly or through you

Start keeping a record now. Whatever the outcome, write down:

• The date of each gift or message
• What was sent and how it arrived
• The date of the last visit, call, or other contact
• Anything the parent has said about wanting, or not wanting, to be involved

A clear timeline helps you, the clerk, and any attorney you consult see the full picture.

You have two paths on the consent question. A Kentucky stepparent adoption petition is filed in Circuit Court along with either consent forms or a motion to dispense with consent. If the biological parent is willing to sign, the consent forms are the route. If the parent isn't willing, or can't be reached, the motion to dispense with consent is where abandonment comes in. Because the parent's response and the facts could make this contested, a local attorney can advise you on that specific issue.

If the parent's whereabouts are unknown: Kentucky allows personal service by sheriff or process server. If the location is unknown, service by publication is allowed after diligent efforts to find the parent.

Other Kentucky basics:

• There is no waiting period for Kentucky residents (non-residents need 12 months in the state), under KRS § 199.470.
• The home study is waived under KRS § 199.473.
• Petitioners need criminal background checks through the Kentucky State Police.
• The typical timeline for a stepparent adoption is 3-6 months.
• The court filing fee typically runs $150-$300.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. Court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. We have helped 501 Kentucky families, and the package comes with a 100% court acceptance guarantee.