Kentucky Family Court

The Kentucky Family Courts use a unique "one family, one judge, one court," approach, with cases being presented in a single court. This allows the one and same judge to hear all the matters involving a particular family's case and reduces the stress and issues that can occur when individuals are transferred between different courts trying to resolve a problem. The Family Court is a division of the Kentucky Circuit Courts, and its judges must have the same qualifications as other circuit court judges.

The Kentucky Family Court jurisdiction is defined by statutes KRS 23A.100 and 23A.110. It includes the following:

Dissolution of marriage Spousal support and equitable Distribution Child custody, support and visitation Paternity, adoption

Domestic violence Dependency, neglect and abuse Termination of parental rights Runaways, truancy, beyond control

History

The state of Kentucky began its family court when Jefferson County began a family court pilot program in 1991. It was the first ever court in the state of Kentucky that focused exclusively on the needs of families and children. The Kentucky Family Courts have introduced a new and rather unique approach that allows one judge to provide continuity by hearing all of a family's legal problems and other issues.

This family court model has now expanded beyond Louisville, Kentucky, to the suburban and the rural areas across Kentucky. This project's success initiated efforts to make the court a permanent part of the Kentucky Constitution. An amendment was passed in November 2002 with more than 75 percent of the vote in favor of creating a family court in all 120 Kentucky counties.

Across those 120 counties, the family court now serves 3.2 million citizens. The Kentucky Family Courts are considered so progressive and successful that they are being used as a national model.

Family court locations

There are 35 family courts throughout Kentucky.

Allen and Simpson Counties Family Court Anderson, Shelby and Spencer Counties Family Court Barren and Metcalfe Counties Family Court Boone and Gallatin Counties Family Court Bourbon, Scott and Woodford Counties Family Court Boyle and Mercer Counties Family Court Breathitt, Powell and Wolfe Counties Family Court Bullitt County Family Court Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio Counties Family Court Calloway and Marshall Counties Family Court Campbell County Family Court Carter, Elliot and Morgan Counties Family Court Christian County Family Court Clark and Madison Counties Family Court Clay, Jackson and Leslie Counties Family Court Crittenden, Union and Webster Counties Family Court Daviess County Family Court Fayette County Family Court

Floyd, Knott and Magoffin Counties Family Court Franklin County Family Court Garrard and Jessamine Counties Family Court Greenup and Lewis Counties Family Court Hardin County Family Court Harrison, Nicholas, Pendleton and Robertson Counties Family Court Henderson County Family Court Henry, Oldham and Trimble Counties Family Court Hopkins County Family Court Jefferson County Family Court Johnson, Lawrence and Martin Counties Family Court Kenton County Family Court Laurel and Knox Counties Family Court Lincoln, Pulaski and Rockcastle Counties Family Court McCracken County Family Court Pike County Family Court Russell and Wayne Counties Family Court Warren County Family Court

See also

• Courts in Kentucky
• Kentucky District Courts
• Kentucky Circuit Courts

External links

• Kentucky Court of Justice, "Family Court"
• Kentucky Court of Justice, "Courts"

Footnotes

Kentucky courts

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Federal courts:

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky

State courts:

Kentucky Supreme Court • Kentucky Court of Appeals • Kentucky Circuit Courts • Kentucky District Courts • Kentucky Family Court

State resources:

Courts in Kentucky • Kentucky judicial elections • Judicial selection in Kentucky