Can a Family Friend Enroll a Child in School in Kentucky?

A neighbor's child is suddenly living with you. Or your godchild's parent just entered rehab and you're the one who stepped up. You want to get the child into school, but you're not a blood relative — and in Kentucky, that distinction matters for which legal tools you can use.

The Caregiver Affidavit Also Covers Adults Living With the Child

KRS 405.024 defines a caregiver as an adult person with whom the minor resides, including grandparents, stepparents, stepgrandparents, aunts, uncles, and other adult relatives. KRS 158.144 uses the same definition, and the affidavit requires the caregiver to state their relationship to the child.

The statute does not say that only relatives qualify. A person who knowingly makes a false statement in the affidavit commits a Class A misdemeanor, so state your relationship accurately and meet the other affidavit requirements, including living with the child.

Another Option: Power of Attorney From the Parent

A parent or legal guardian may also delegate parental rights using a Power of Attorney under KRS 403.352. The parent or guardian signs the statutory form (codified at KRS 403.353), names you as attorney-in-fact, and the parent or guardian's signature and your acceptance are acknowledged before a notary.

For this Power of Attorney, background checks are required before execution for anyone other than a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or adult sibling:

• Criminal history background check before execution
• Child abuse and neglect registry check before execution

The parent initiates the process, not you.

Once you have the executed POA, you can enroll the child in your local school district and make medical decisions on the parent's behalf. The POA lasts up to one year.

What If the Parent Can't Sign?

The POA requires the parent's or legal guardian's active participation and notarized signature. If that signer is unavailable, an adult who lives with the child may use the caregiver affidavit if they document the circumstances and reasonable efforts to locate the required signer.

If the parent is incarcerated, in treatment, or simply gone and you're not a relative, your options narrow:

• Contact DCBS. If the child's situation involves neglect or unsafe conditions, the Department for Community Based Services can initiate a formal placement with you under court supervision, which gives you legal authority. Call the CHFS Child Protection Hotline at 1-855-459-5437.
• Emergency custody through court. You can petition Family or Circuit Court for emergency temporary custody under KRS Chapter 620 if there's evidence of dependency, neglect, or abuse.
• McKinney-Vento protections. If the child lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including because of housing loss or hardship, the federal McKinney-Vento Act may provide immediate enrollment rights when documents are missing. Ask the school for the district's Homeless Liaison.

School Enrollment Through KRS 158.144

KRS 158.144 adopts the same caregiver definition as KRS 405.024(1), and the affidavit establishes authority for both school-related decisions and the health care treatment specified by KRS 405.024. A school must honor a duly executed affidavit, subject to the statutory exceptions for athletic access and school-boundary circumvention.

If school staff ask for a custody order, show them the affidavit and ask them to review KRS 158.144. The affidavit is the statutory document for establishing this authority.

Getting Help

If you're a non-relative who's stepped into a caregiving role and can't get the parent to sign a POA, reach out to these resources:

• CHFS Kinship Support Hotline: 877-565-5608
• Regional legal aid offices: AppalReD Legal Aid (eastern KY), Legal Aid Society (Louisville), Legal Aid of the Bluegrass (central/northern KY), Kentucky Legal Aid (western KY)
• KY-KINS (Kinship Navigator program): through the KY FACES portal at kyfaces.ky.gov

Our Kentucky school and medical consent guide explains both the relative affidavit and the POA path in detail, including which situations call for court involvement.

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