Establishing Paternity in Kentucky

Parents can sign a notarized voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, offered through the hospital-based program at birth or later, and submitted to the state registrar of vital statistics (Office of Vital Statistics). The Vital Statistics Branch's acknowledgment form has the same weight as a judgment of paternity. After submission, paternity is rebuttably presumed for the earlier of 60 days or the date of a court or administrative proceeding about the child; an unchallenged acknowledgment is then ratified without a court proceeding. Otherwise the mother, alleged father, child or a supporting agency can ask the county attorney or Attorney General to bring a paternity action in District Court. The court must order genetic testing on request, and an alleged father who refuses or fails to submit results within 30 days loses the question of paternity.