{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-625.042","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 625.042","heading":"Conduct of hearings.","body":"(1) Within three (3) days after a petition for the voluntary termination of parental rights\nis filed, the Circuit Court shall set a date for a hearing which shall not be more than\nthirty (30) calendar days after the petition is filed. In any case in which the child's\npermanent custody is proposed to be transferred to an individual not excepted by\nKRS 199.470(4), a final order of termination shall be entered only if the proposed\ncustodian has received the written approval of the secretary or the secretary's\ndesignee for the child's placement as required by KRS 199.473. The secretary or the\nsecretary's designee shall provide written approval or disapproval, if required by this\nsubsection, within thirty (30) days after the request is made.\n(2) The Circuit Court sha ll require notice to be served upon the local representative of\nthe cabinet in any case in which a statement from the cabinet of willingness to\naccept custody of the child has not been filed with the petition, or custody of the\nchild is to be placed with a n individual unless the placement has been approved by\nthe cabinet. It shall not be necessary to serve notice upon the cabinet if custody of\nthe child is to be placed with the cabinet or with a child-placing agency.\n(3) Proceedings under this chapter shall  be completed as soon as practicable but shall\nnot exceed six (6) months. All hearings shall be held before the Circuit Court\nprivately for the purpose of determining the facts.\n(4) An official stenographic or mechanical record shall be made of the proceed ings and\nretained for a period of five (5) years.\n(5) The best interests of the child shall be considered paramount, including but not\nlimited to matters relating to child support.\n(6) At the time of the hearing, the Circuit Court, after full and complete inquiry, shall\ndetermine whether each petitioner is fully aware of the purpose of the proceedings\nand the consequences of the provisions of this chapter.","path":["KRS Chapter 625"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=48072","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T21:00:08Z","sha256":"de89836a5cc658f6207db7666f8cf9fb7017b1338272a0968190d3fbd4852827","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-625.041","next":"us-ky/krs-625.043"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}