Kentucky statute provides for grandparent visitation on quite limited grounds. In 2020, KRS 405.021(1)(b) and (c) were found to be unconstitutional, thus leaving intact only KRS 405.021(1)(a) and KRS 405.021(3) as the only potential avenues for a grandparent to obtain visitation. Pinto v. Robison, 607 S.W.3d 669, 671 (Ky. 2020). KRS 405.021(3) allows a grandparent...Read More

S.S. v. Cabinet for Health and Fam. Servs., Com. Ohio Family Court After giving birth to Child, Mother suffered many medical issues, which prevented her from providing the level of care she wanted to give Child, leaving the care mostly to Father. Child was suffering from diarrhea and vomiting, prompting Mother to call the pediatrician....Read More

It has long been the law of the Commonwealth of Kentucky that guardians of disabled adults can assist with many tasks, but filing a divorce case on the ward’s behalf has not been one of those tasks. (A ward is the incapacitated / disabled person who has a guardian). One can imagine the frustration that...Read More

The question of when to file a divorce is both a legal question and a practical question. Legally, if you want to file a divorce action in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Court must have jurisdiction to hear your case. At the most basic level, you must meet the KRS 430.140 residency requirement “that  one ...Read More

M.C. v. Com., Cabinet for Health and Fam. Servs. Calloway Circuit Court Questions Presented: KRS 600.020(1). Abused or Neglected Child. Sufficiency of Evidence. Evidence of parent’s consumption of alcohol was not sufficient to support a finding that the children were abused or neglected under the statute and did not warrant removal. Father is the biological...Read More

Elderserve, Inc. ex rel. Brooks v. Hagerty Jefferson Circuit Court Questions Presented: Writ of Mandamus. Guardianship. Dissolution of Marriage.  While affirming the denial of a writ of mandamus, the Court overrules Johnson v. Johnson, 170 S.W.2d 889 (Ky. 1943) to the extent it strictly prohibited a guardian from initiating an action for dissolution of marriage...Read More

Blackaby v. Barnes Shelby Circuit Court Questions Presented: Grandparent visitation. Adoption. Under circumstances involving a maternal grandmother’s adoption of a child which was being contested by the father at the time of his death, with no notice to the paternal grandfather of either the adoption proceeding or the possibility that ongoing visitation would not continue,...Read More

A.K.H. v. J.D.C. Jefferson Circuit Court In December of 2014, Biological Father intentionally drove his car into his and Mother’s residence while Mother and Child were inside the home, which resulted in criminal charges being filed against him. He pleaded guilty to felony wanton endangerment, and a domestic violence order was also entered prohibiting him...Read More

Kentucky requires that the parties have been separated, or have “lived apart”, for a period of 60 days, which can include living under the same roof without sexual cohabitation, before the court can grant a decree of legal separation or dissolution of marriage. KRS 403.170(1). You do not need to obtain a separate home to...Read More

Jones v. Jones Fayette Circuit Court Glynis was married to Johnathan’s deceased brother. Glynis petitioned for an interpersonal protective order (IPO) against Johnathan. At the hearing, Glynis testified that she and Johnathan had not seen or spoken to each other for several years before her husband’s death. However, thereafter, they checked in on each other...Read More