Kentucky Family Court

The Kentucky Family Courts use an unique "one family, one judge, one court," approach, with cases being presented in a single court. Thus this allows the one and same judge to hear all the matters involving the particular family case and therefore reduces the stress and issues that can occur when individuals are transferred between different courts trying to resolve various issues. The Kentucky Family Court jurisdiction is defined by the 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

The History of the Family Court

The state of Kentucky began its Family Court when the county of Jefferson began a Family Court pilot program in the year 1991. It was the first ever court in the state of Kentucky that focused just 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 Family Court a permanent part of the Kentucky Constitution. The Amendment was passed in November of 2002 with more than 75 percent of the vote in favor of the Family Court in all 120 Kentucky counties.

As of today, the Family Court now serves 3.2 million citizens in Kentucky's 120 counties. The Kentucky Family Courts are considered so progressive and successful that they are being used as a national model.

Family Courts in Kentucky

The following are the 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 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

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