Kentucky Divorce Laws and Resources
The following information is a summary on Kentucky divorce laws, as well as resources for the State. You can find divorce lawyers and professionals, separation and divorce forms, child support calculators, and more. In addition to the resources listed below, you can find more help and information in our divorce article section.
ProfessionalsDivorce LawyersPrivate Investigators Background Checks Divorce SupportSupport GroupsDomestic ViolenceShelters and Hotlines |
Divorce PapersDivorce and Separation FormsOnline Divorce Divorce Form Preparation Family Law ResourcesDivorce LawsChild Support Guidelines Kentucky Child Support Calculator Child Support Enforcement |
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DIVORCE LAWYERS AND FIRMS
Need a Divorce Lawyer?
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qualified attorneys who can handle your case. Legal Match is a good
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experience, availability and price of pre-screened attorneys before deciding
whom to contact.
DIVORCE FORM PREPARATION
Have All of Your Documents Completed For You! This easy to use, accurate, and up-to-date on-line divorce service is a perfect "do it yourself (without a lawyer)" solution for any uncontested divorce (with or without children) that will be filed in the state of Kentucky. You can get "Real Person" customer support by phone & e-mail, plus access to 40 downloadable books (valued at over $750). Start your divorce today.
PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS
There are currently no private investigators for this state
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Conduct Background Checks and Investigations - Obtain vital statistics, marriage and divorce records, credit record checks, criminal and court records, sex offender searches, driving and vehicle records, property records, general public records, business registration and property resources. Find out the truth about anyone!
DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUPS
Divorce Care can help you locate a divorce support group in your area. There are thousands of DivorceCare support groups throughout the USA and Canada, and many groups meeting internationally as well.
Partners in Prevention provides consulting and psychological services to
domestic abuse survivors before, during and post divorce. Additionally, we serve
as consulting experts in both civil and criminal domestic violence cases. We
also offer continuing medical and nursing education in domestic abuse assessment
and clinical management to healthcare professionals. You can contact us at:
13918 E. Mississippi Ave
Aurora, CO 80012
Phone: 720-222-1058
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES
Domestic Violence Crisis ResourcesShelters and Hotlines
Domestic Violence Association
KENTUCKY DIVORCE LAWS
Kentucky Divorce StatutesRESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS AND WHERE TO FILE: The Circuit Court shall enter a decree of dissolution of marriage if the court finds that one (1) of the parties, at the time the action was commenced, resided in this state, or was stationed in this state while a member of the armed services, and that the residence or military presence has been maintained for 180 days next preceding the filing of the petition. [ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapter: 403.140]
LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE: If both of the parties by
petition or otherwise have stated under oath or affirmation that the
marriage is irretrievably broken, or one of the parties has so
stated and the other has not denied it, the court, after hearing,
shall make a finding whether the marriage is irretrievably broken.
No decree shall be entered until the parties have lived apart for 60
days. Living apart shall include living under the same roof without
sexual cohabitation. The court may order a conciliation conference
as a part of the hearing. [Based on Kentucky Statutes - Title 35
- Chapter: 403.170]
LEGAL SEPARATION: If a party requests a decree of legal
separation rather than a decree of dissolution of marriage, the
court shall grant the decree in that form unless the other party
objects, in which latter event the other provisions of this chapter
shall apply. No earlier than one year after entry of a decree
of legal separation, the court on motion of either party shall
convert the decree to a decree of dissolution of marriage. [
Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapters: 403.140 and 403.230]
MEDIATION OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS: The court may order a conciliation conference as a part of the hearing to determine if the marriage is irretrievably broken. If there is a finding of domestic violence, the court shall not order mediation unless requested by the victim of the alleged domestic violence and abuse, and the court finds that: (1) The victim's request is voluntary and not the result of coercion; and (2) Mediation is a realistic and viable alternative to or adjunct to the issuance of an order sought by the victim of the alleged domestic violence and abuse. [ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapters: 403.036, 403.170]
PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION: Kentucky is an equitable distribution state. the court shall divide the marital property without regard to marital misconduct in just proportions considering all relevant factors including: (a) Contribution of each spouse to acquisition of the marital property, including contribution of a spouse as homemaker; (b) Value of the property set apart to each spouse; (c) Duration of the marriage; and (d) Economic circumstances of each spouse when the division of property is to become effective, including the desirability of awarding the family home or the right to live therein for reasonable periods to the spouse having custody of any children.
"Marital property" means all property acquired by either spouse subsequent to the marriage except: (a) Property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent during the marriage and the income derived from it unless there are significant activities of either spouse which contributed to the increase in value of said property and the income earned from it; (b) Property acquired in exchange for property acquired before the marriage or in exchange for property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent; (c) Property acquired by a spouse after a decree of legal separation; (d) Property excluded by valid agreement of the parties; and (e) The increase in value of property acquired before the marriage to the extent that such increase did not result from the efforts of the parties during marriage.
All property acquired by either spouse after the marriage and before a decree of legal separation is presumed to be marital property, regardless of whether title is held individually or by the spouses in some form of co-ownership such as joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety, and community property. The presumption of marital property is overcome by a showing that the property was acquired by a method listed in section above. [ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapter: 403.190]
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ALIMONY/MAINTENANCE/SPOUSAL SUPPORT:
The court may grant a maintenance order for either spouse only if it finds that
the spouse seeking maintenance: (a) Lacks sufficient property, including marital
property apportioned to him, to provide for his reasonable needs; and (b) Is
unable to support himself through appropriate employment or is the custodian of
a child whose condition or circumstances make it appropriate that the custodian
not be required to seek employment outside the home.
The maintenance order shall be in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just, and after considering all relevant factors including: (a) The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including marital property apportioned to him, and his ability to meet his needs independently, including the extent to which a provision for support of a child living with the party includes a sum for that party as custodian; (b) The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment; (c) The standard of living established during the marriage; (d) The duration of the marriage; (e) The age, and the physical and emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance; and (f) The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet his needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance. [ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapter: 403.200]
SPOUSE'S NAME: Upon request by a wife whose marriage is dissolved or declared invalid, the court may, and if there are no children of the parties shall, order her maiden name or a former name restored. [ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapter: 403.230]
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CHILD CUSTODY: The court may grant joint custody to the
child's parents, or to the child's parents and a de facto custodian, if it is in
the best interest of the child. "De facto custodian" means
a person who has been shown by clear and convincing evidence to have been the
primary caregiver for, and financial supporter of, a child who has resided with
the person for a period of six (6) months or more if the child is under three
(3) years of age and for a period of one (1) year or more if the child is three
(3) years of age or older or has been placed by the Department for Community
Based Services.
The court shall determine custody in accordance with the best interests of the child and equal consideration shall be given to each parent and to any de facto custodian. The court shall consider all relevant factors including: (a) The wishes of the child's parent or parents, and any de facto custodian, as to his custody; (b) The wishes of the child as to his custodian; (c) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with his parent or parents, his siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interests; (d) The child's adjustment to his home, school, and community; (e) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved; (f) Information, records, and evidence of domestic violence (g) The extent to which the child has been cared for, nurtured, and supported by any de facto custodian; (h) The intent of the parent or parents in placing the child with a de facto custodian; and (i) The circumstances under which the child was placed or allowed to remain in the custody of a de facto custodian, including whether the parent now seeking custody was previously prevented from doing so as a result of domestic violence and whether the child was placed with a de facto custodian to allow the parent now seeking custody to seek employment, work, or attend school.
The abandonment of the family residence by a custodial party shall not be considered where said party was physically harmed or was seriously threatened with physical harm by his or her spouse, when such harm or threat of harm was causally related to the abandonment.
If the court grants custody to a de facto custodian, the de facto custodian shall have legal custody under the laws of the Commonwealth. [ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapter: 403.270]
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CHILD SUPPORT: Kentucky uses the Incomes Shares Model
to determine child support. The child support obligation set forth
in the child support guidelines table shall be divided between the parents in
proportion to their combined monthly adjusted parental gross income. After
July 15, 1990, any new or modified order or decree which contains provisions for
the support of a minor child or minor children, shall provide for a wage
assignment which shall begin immediately except for good cause shown. [
Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapters: 403.212 and 403.215]
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