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

Legal separation is a legal term of art. It is a distinct legal process and not a speedier or more efficient way of obtaining a divorce. In fact, one of the defining characteristics of legal separation is that a divorce cannot be granted for at least a year until after the legal separation has occurred....Read More

Normandin v. Normandin Questions Presented: Marital Dissolution. Restricted Stock Units. Trial court improperly classified restricted stock units (RSUs) as entirely nonmarital property. To appropriately classify such assets the trial court applies a presumption that the RSUs are earned over the period between grant and vesting, and the proportion of RSUs acquired for purposes of marital...Read More

Com., Cabinet for Health and Family Services v. J.M.A. Jefferson Circuit Court Alleging abuse and neglect of Older Daughter, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (“the Cabinet”) filed a dependency, neglect, and abuse (“DNA”) petition against Mother. Family Court placed Older Daughter in Maternal Grandmother’s custody, ordering Mother to complete several treatments, maintain sobriety,...Read More

S.R.V. v. J.S.B. Livingston Circuit Court The parties married in 2008 and divorced in July 2014. After divorce, they reconciled and began living together again but never remarried. In December 2014, S.R.V. gave birth to Older Child. In August 2016, she gave birth to Younger Child. J.S.B. helped raise the children. In February 2018, the...Read More

A deposition is a discovery tool by which your attorney can obtain sworn testimony from a witness outside of the courtroom and the presence of the Judge.Read More

Even while married, couples can have difficulty navigating the holiday season. Grandparents, step-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and more all want face time during the holidays, especially when a little one is involved. A divorce or separation can add even more complications to the busy holiday season.Read More