{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-625.0403","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 625.0403","heading":"Voluntary termination during pendency of proceedings under KRS","body":"Chapter 620 -- Parental election -- Consent form -- Definition.\n(1) As used in this section, \"voluntary and informed\" means that at the time of the\nexecution of the consent, the consenting person was fully informed of the legal\neffect of the consent, that the consenting person was not given or promised anything\nof value, that the consenting person was not coerced in any way to execute the\nconsent, and that the consent was voluntar ily and knowingly given. If at the time of\nthe execution of the consent the consenting person was represented by independent\nlegal counsel, there shall be a presumption that the consent was voluntary and\ninformed.\n(2) Notwithstanding KRS 625.040, a parent may elect to voluntarily terminate his or\nher parental rights during the pendency of a proceeding under KRS Chapter 620 by\nsigning a consent form prescribed by the Administrative Office of the Courts,\nwhich shall be filed with the court and contain the following:\n(a) Date, time, and place of the execution of the consent;\n(b) Consenting person's relationship to the child;\n(c) Name and place of residence of the parent;\n(d) Name, sex, date of birth, and place of residence of the child;\n(e) A concise statement of the factual basis for the termination of parental rights;\n(f) A statement that the consent:\n1. Was voluntary and informed; and\n2. Will be final and irrevocable seventy -two (72) hours after the execution\nof the consent. This consent may be withdrawn only by written\nnotification:\na. Filed with the court; and\nb. Sent to the proposed adoptive parent or the attorney of the\nproposed adoptive parent, if any;\non or before the expiration of the seventy -two (72) hours by certified or\nregistered mail and also by first-class mail;\n(g) A statement that the parent has received a completed and signed copy of the\nconsent at the time of the execution of the consent;\n(h) Name and address of the individual or of the cabinet or authorized agency to\nwhich parental rights are sought to be transferred, if known;\n(i) A statement that the individual, cabinet, or authorized agency to whom\ncustody is to be given has facilities available, is willing to receive the custody\nof the child, and in the case of an individual, that he or she, if not excepted by\nKRS 199.470(4), has applied for the written approval of the secretary or the\nsecretary's designee for the child's placement;\n(j) A statement of acknowledgement and agreement waiving the parent's\nappearance at a hearing, signed by the parent, counsel for the parent, and the\ncabinet;\n(k) Any address to which the parent requests the final judgment be served; and\n(l) The parent's notarized signature. If the parent is a minor, the form shall also\nbe signed by the guardian of the minor parent.\n(3) The parent seeking termination shall not be required to attend proceedings under\nthis section.\n(4) A termination order under t his section shall be entered only upon a finding by the\ncourt that termination would be in the best interest of the child.\n(5) (a) Proceedings under this section shall otherwise be governed by KRS 625.0405,\n625.0407, 625.041, 625.042, 625.043, 625.044, 625.045, and 625.046, but any\nreference to a petition shall be considered a reference to a consent form under\nsubsection (1) of this section, and any reference to the petitioner shall be\nconsidered a reference to the parent seeking termination under this section.\n(b) If proceedings under this section are in District Court, then any reference to\nthe Circuit Court shall be considered a reference to the District Court, as\napplicable.","path":["KRS Chapter 625"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54812","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T21:00:08Z","sha256":"88ea892fa70238718f6ec5238f85281a7dd88eabe52e48c3157ed8caff60d6c3","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-625.040","next":"us-ky/krs-625.0405"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}