Wattenberger v. Wattenberger   Trial Court ordered the parties’ marital home to be sold to compensate former wife for her maintenance claim, with the net proceeds of the sale divided 65% to former wife and 35% to former husband. The record lacked an appraisal or valuation of the property and no findings were made to...Read More

Meinders v. Middleton Trial court granted temporary custody of minor child to women believed to be the child’s biological paternal grandmother and aunt. Four days after the dependency, abuse, and neglect hearing, which biological mother failed to attend, biological mother requested a paternity test for a man she believed to be the child’s true biological...Read More

Berzansky v. Parrish Trial Court denied Father’s motion to modify custody of the parties’ minor child, which was registered as a foreign judgment in the Jefferson County Family Court. The Trial Court considered Father’s motion for modification of a custody decree pursuant to KRS 403.340(3), which states “If a Court in this state has jurisdiction...Read More

C.J. v. M.S. and Cabinet for Health and Family Services Adoptive parents filed a dual petition seeking to terminate biological mother’s parental rights and to adopt minor child. Following a full evidentiary hearing, the family court entered simultaneous, separate orders terminating Biological mother’s parental rights and granting adoptive parents’ petition to adopt child. The parties...Read More

G.P. v. Cabinet for Health and Family Services Trial Court committed minor child to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Father argued the Trial Court erred when it failed to place minor child with Stepmother, or, alternatively, with one of three blood relatives. Stepmother was not biologically related to minor child and Father failed...Read More

Morton v. Tipton Trial Court, using the preponderance of the evidence standard, awarded limited grandparent visitation to Paternal Grandfather. Custodial Maternal Grandfather and Step-Grandfather challenged the Trial Court’s decisions arguing that the proper standard of proof to be used by the Trial Court was the Clear and Convincing Evidence standard. Paternal Grandfather argued that the...Read More

A.F. and M.F. v. L.B. and B.B. Maternal aunt and uncle filed a petition to adopt minor child without biological mother and father’s consent under KRS 199.502(1). The Trial court held a hearing and entered an interlocutory judgment thirty-five (35) days after the close of arguments. Biological mother and father sought to dismiss the case...Read More

Cottrell v. Cottrell Trial Court entered a DVO against Former Husband after he drove his truck into a house occupied by Former wife and their child in 2015. In 2018, Trial Court granted Former Wife’s motion to extend a Domestic Violence Order against Former Husband for an additional three years. Former Husband was incarcerated for...Read More

E.K. and N.K. v. T.A. and A.C.K., A MINOR CHILD   Father filed a petition for (1) adoption under KRS 199.502 and (2) involuntary termination of natural mother’s rights under KRS 625.050. Father did not join the Cabinet as a party. The minor child resided with Father and Step-Mother. Mother argued the petition should be...Read More

R.B. v. S.M. Trial Court granted Father temporary custody of minor child after Mother had been arrested for driving under the influence while minor child had been left unattended in their residence. After a full hearing, Trial Court later rescinded the order granting Father temporary custody. Unbeknownst to the Kentucky Trial Court, a prior temporary...Read More