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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 406.021: Determination of paternity -- Liability of noncustodial parent.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. KRS Chapter 406

(1) Paternity may be determined upon the complaint of the mother, putative father,

child, person, or agency substantially contributing to the support of the child. The

action s hall be brought by the county attorney or by the Office of the Attorney

General or its designee upon the request of complainant authorized by this section.

(2) Paternity may be determined by the District Court when the mother and father of

the child, either:

(a) Submit affidavits in which the mother states the name and Social Security

number of the child's father and the father admits paternity of the child; or

(b) Give testimony before the District Court in which the mother states the name

and Social Secur ity number of the child's father and the father admits

paternity of the child.

(3) If paternity has been determined or has been acknowledged according to the laws of

this state, the liabilities of the noncustodial parent may be enforced in the same or

other proceedings by the mother, child, person, or agency substantially contributing

to the cost of pregnancy, confinement, education, necessary support, or funeral

expenses. Bills for testing, pregnancy, and childbirth without requiring third party

foundation testimony shall be regarded as prima facie evidence of the amount

incurred. An action to enforce the liabilities of the noncustodial parent shall be

brought by the county attorney upon the request of such complainant authorized by

this section. An action to enforce the liabilities of the cost of pregnancy, birthing

costs, child support, and medical support shall be brought by the county attorney or

by the Office of the Attorney General or its designee.

(4) Voluntary acknowledgment of paternity pursuant to KRS 213.046 shall create a

rebuttable presumption of paternity.

(5) Upon a showing of service of process on the defendant and if the defendant has

made no pleading to the court or has not moved to enter evidence pursuant to KRS

406.091, the court shall order paternity to be established by default.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:59:32Z. Source file · JSON

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