The first steps toward divorce
Understand dissolution, residency, immediate household needs, and the decisions that must be addressed before a decree.
3 minute readAn independent Kentucky publication
Clearer questions.
Better prepared.
A practical starting point for understanding family law, organizing your records, and deciding what to ask next.
The guide collection
Find the issue
in front of you.
10 focused guides.
A preparation list in every article.
Know the setting
One family may have several connected legal questions.
Kentucky Family Court is a division of Circuit Court. Divorce, parenting, support, and protection issues can overlap. Bring all existing orders and information about related cases when you seek legal advice.
Read at your own pace
Choose a starting point.
Plain-language context.
Useful questions. Practical records.
Separation & finances
Understand the process, the financial picture, and the work behind a settlement.
3 guidesMaintenance and financial independence
Understand the eligibility questions and build a supported budget for a discussion about spousal maintenance.
3 minute readMarital property, separate claims, and debt
Trace ownership and contributions, identify debt obligations, and compare settlement proposals with complete records.
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Children & care
Connect legal decisions with your child’s everyday routines and needs.
4 guidesCustody and shared parenting
Understand the rebuttable presumption, the importance of safety, and why a parenting schedule requires a factual review.
3 minute readA timesharing plan for real life
Resolve exchanges, school breaks, everyday information, and disruptions before relying on a parenting schedule.
3 minute readThe records behind child support
Prepare reliable figures for the guidelines, child-related expenses, and a possible request to change an existing order.
3 minute readPaternity and unmarried parents
Understand acknowledgment, court determination, and why support and custody arrangements need separate attention.
3 minute readProcess & protection
Prepare for discussions, recognize urgent concerns, and find suitable legal help.
3 guidesPreparing for family mediation
Organize proposals, check the process, and understand the role of separate legal advice before a settlement discussion.
3 minute readProtective orders and safer next steps
Learn the basic categories, prepare safely, and keep track of the hearing and exact conditions of an order.
3 minute readChoosing counsel and preparing a case file
Match the lawyer’s experience to your issue and bring a concise, usable record of what needs attention.
3 minute read- 01
Dates and notices
Put hearings, received papers, and urgent concerns at the front of your file.
- 02
Orders and records
Keep complete documents together, including relevant financial and parenting information.
- 03
Your questions
Ask about the next step, who will handle it, and what still needs to be clarified.