At issue in this case was (1) whether statements of a child to a treating therapist regarding alleged abuse constitute inadmissible hearsay; (2) whether statements of a child to a treating therapist regarding the alleged perpetrator of abuse constitute admissible hearsay; and (3) whether the trial court erred by failing to give more consideration to...Read More

he Supreme Court disagreed. CR 52.01 requires the trial court to finds the facts specifically and state separately its conclusions of law thereon and render an appropriate judgment.Read More

Burgess v. Chase Hardin Circuit Court Grandmother moved to intervene in custody action between Mother and Father, requesting to be considered Child’s de facto custodian and be awarded custody of child. At the hearing on the matter, Grandmother introduced evidence that she provided the majority of care and support of Child with her in Kentucky....Read More

K.D.H. v. Com., Cabinet for Health & Fam. Servs. Spencer Circuit Court After the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (“the Cabinet”) petitioned to terminate Mother’s parental rights, Family Court held a hearing, ultimately terminating Mother’s parental rights. Mother appealed. The Court of Appeals held that there was no clear and convincing evidence that the...Read More

Many people enjoy a very close relationship with their stepparent or stepchild.  Sometimes this bond is just as strong as if the individuals were in fact parent and child biologically.  However, it is important to remember that for most legal purposes, a stepparent and stepchild relationship is entirely meaningless.  You should never make assumptions about...Read More

Kentucky’s custody and parenting time statue does not favor a mother over a father. Instead, Kentucky courts apply a best interest standard to determine a parenting time schedule that is in the best interest of the child. There is a rebuttable presumption that equal parenting time is in the child’s best interest. While a father’s...Read More

It is not uncommon for married couples to hold title to assets in the name of only one spouse. Most often, couples will hold a joint savings or checking account and also have separate banking, investment, and retirement accounts. In Kentucky, all assets acquired during the marriage are presumed to be marital property and subject...Read More

Gambrel v. Croushore ex rel. Villarreal Campbell Circuit Court The issue in this case was whether court-appointed guardians ad litem (“G.A.L.”) enjoy absolute quasi-judicial immunity from malpractice claims arising from their role in child custody proceedings. Absolute immunity against suits for money damages has been extended to non-judicial officers performing quasi-judicial duties. Kentucky extends quasi-judicial...Read More

MEMORANDUM Moore v. Moore Whitley Circuit Court Questions Presented: KRS 403.340(3). Modification of Visitation. Best Interests of the Children. Risk of Harm. The “Law of this Case” Doctrine. The issue here is whether the trial court erred in failing to make a specific written finding that it was in the best interests of the Movant’s...Read More

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (“UCCJEA”), KRS 403.800 et seq., has provisions which permit nonparents to petition a court for custody. KRS 403.822 permits a “person acting as a parent” to petition a court for custody. Mullins v. Picklesimer, 317 S.W.3d 569, 575 (Ky. 2010). A “person acting as a parent” is...Read More