What is an abandonment affidavit for adoption in Kentucky?

An abandonment affidavit in Kentucky is a sworn written statement describing how long and in what ways the other biological parent has been absent from your child's life. It supports your request that the Circuit Court let the adoption go forward without that parent's consent. Kentucky's abandonment period is short: under KRS § 199.502, 3 months (90 days) of no contact can establish grounds for proceeding.

What it typically covers:

• The date of the last known contact between the parent and your child
• A plain description of the absence, such as no visits, calls, cards or messages
• How long the absence has lasted, measured against the 3-month (90-day) period in KRS § 199.502
• Whether the parent has provided any support
• Any efforts you or your spouse made to keep the parent involved

Why detail matters: The affidavit is your written account of what happened, so it should be specific, accurate and honest. Dates, examples and facts help far more than general statements like "he was never around." Whether the facts in your situation meet the legal standard is for the Circuit Court to decide, not for you or the paperwork alone.

Where it fits in the filing: Kentucky stepparent adoption involves a Petition for Adoption, consent forms or a motion to dispense with consent, and your spouse's consent to the adoption. When the other parent will not sign, the affidavit helps explain why you are asking the court to dispense with that parent's consent. Kentucky also requires criminal background checks through the Kentucky State Police for adoption petitioners. A home study is waived under KRS § 199.473.

Notice to the other parent: Kentucky allows personal service by sheriff or process server. If you do not know where the parent is, service by publication is allowed after a diligent search. Be ready to describe your efforts to locate the parent.

Things to keep in mind:

• If your child is 12 or older, the child's own consent is a separate matter under KRS § 199.500.
• If the other parent contests the adoption, or you are unsure whether your facts qualify, talk to an attorney. The Circuit Court clerk in your county can confirm local filing details, such as how the affidavit should be formatted or who must sign it.
• Kentucky residents have no waiting period before filing. Non-residents need 12 months in the state.

Cost and timeline: Court filing fees in Kentucky typically run $150-$300, and the total cost of a self-filed stepparent adoption is typically under $1,000. Attorney-handled adoptions often run $3,000-$5,000+. Stepparent adoptions in Kentucky commonly take 3-6 months.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online about your family, including the other parent's absence, 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, with court-ready documents delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. We back every package with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 501 Kentucky families and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.