The Age of Consent
KRS 510.020 — sixteen, and eighteen when the older person is ten years older
A person less than sixteen years old cannot consent, and neither can someone sixteen or seventeen when the other person is at least ten years older.
Who handles this in Kentucky: Kentucky Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Kentucky directory.
| The younger person | The older person | The charge |
|---|---|---|
| The younger personUnder 16 | The older person21 or older | The chargeRape in the third degree, a Class D felony |
| The younger person16 or 17 | The older personAt least ten years older | The chargeRape in the third degree, a Class D felony |
Other degrees, other sex offenses and registration are in other sections not covered here. A charge, or the worry of one, is a question for a licensed Kentucky attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- KRS 510.020 — Lack of consent
- KRS 510.060 — Rape in the third degree
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Kentucky attorney.