By: Jaclyn Zembrodt Taylor, Law Clerk for Melissa Doss Law Introduction If you are involved in a legal custody issue regarding your child or any child in your life, it may seem strange that a judge will make the final determination that binds you to a court order for several weeks, months, or even years [...]
House Bill 528, signed by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin in April, states that there will a presumption that joint parenting and equally shared custody is in the best interest of the child. If one of the parties involved believes custody should be different form that, they will have to prove it. Manda Barger and Chris [...]
If you are recently divorced with children, here is a review of the Kentucky Court guidelines for time sharing as the 2018 school year comes to an end. The full document can be found HERE. The following schedules are suggested as guidelines for the parents and the court establishing time-sharing/visitation schedules. Each case will present [...]
While some private adoption agencies charge for the approval process, training and evaluation, the states social services foster and adoption services are free. In some cases, a fee may be required for a physical evaluation. Regardless of agency, according to adopt.ky.gov, In Kentucky, "there are 8,084 children in out of home care with an average [...]
The holiday spirit can be a tough one for children that don't yet have a family of their own. A simple act of kindness on your part can do wonders for a child's spirit especially around Christmas. How can you give? Here are some ways to give to kids in need this year: Toys for [...]
Guardianship is a legal process used to protect individuals who are unable to care for their own well-being due to infancy, incapacity or disability. When the Ward, or person that requires a legal guardian to care for them, is in need of special protection, the court will appoint a legal guardian to take care of [...]
Adoption affects the child, the birth parents and the adoptive families. It has become a blessing for thousands of families each year. More and more, women are choosing adoption. They understand the benefits of adoption and want what is best for their child. Because of open adoption, relationships can be ongoing between these women and [...]
Here are some adoptions statistics: 62 percent of children adopted privately are placed with the adoptive family when they are newborns or less than one year old. 100 % of all birth mothers have the right to choose the amount of openness they want in their child’s life. 21 percent of private adoptions are transracial. [...]
I get asked all the time what family court is like? Does it feel like a criminal court? Can I plead the fifth? Guilty or not guilty? Family court in Kentucky is different than other courts and uses a case management system. It’s focused on one family, one judge, and one court. According to Ky.gov, [...]
I recently heard a story about a divorced couple with two children. The former spouses adopted the state guidelines for their divorce which stated the mother retained full custody while the father had every other weekend, one evening on opposite weeks, and a full week a year for vacation. For a short time, everybody followed [...]
