When does the birth mother actually sign the legal documents required for the adoption?
A. Initially, it should be noted that there are two procedures that birth parents can choose, both of which will result in the termination of their parental rights. Kentucky law provides for the court ordered termination of parental rights. This procedure involves the birth mother filing a petition for the voluntary termination of her parental rights. If the birth father admits paternity, he would join in that petition. If the birth father denies paternity but his identity is known, then the birth mother would also file a petition to involuntarily terminate the birth father’s rights. Even if the birth father is unknown, Kentucky law provides for the termination of any man’s rights to the child if no man has taken certain steps to establish paternity. Those steps must be taken by the birth father within sixty (60) days of the date of birth. The birth parent(s) physically appear in front of the judge and the judge enters an order terminating parental rights. The other procedure which res
