Statutory Reference to Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated:

Residence: § 403.140

Divorce: § 403.170

Alimony: § 403.200

Property Distribution: § 403.190

Custody: § 403.270

Visitation: § 403.021

Child Support: § 403.211

 

Residence:

Complainant must live in the state for 180 days prior to filing.

 

Grounds:

Irretrievable breakdown of marriage.  The decree shall not be entered until the parties have lived separate and apart for 60 days. 

 

Distribution of Property:

Equitable division of property, based on dual classification of property found in the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act.  Property is divided without regard to marital misconduct. 

 

Alimony/Spousal Support:

Spousal support may be rehabilitative, periodic, or lump sum.  The court may order maintenance only if it finds that the spouse seeking maintenance (1) lacks sufficient property to provide for his/her reasonable needs, and (2) is unable to support him/herself through appropriate employment or is the custodian or a child whose age or condition make it appropriate that the custodian not seek employment outside the home. 

The court shall consider in awarding maintenance (1) the financial circumstances of the parties, including marital property awarded; (2) the time necessary to acquire an education or training; (3) the standard of living established during the marriage; (4) duration of the marriage; (5) ability of the spouse paying maintenance to meet his/her needs while meeting the needs of the spouse seeking maintenance.

 

Child Custody/Visitation:

The court may grant joint custody to the child's parents if it is in the child's best interests.  The court may not consider conduct of a custodian that does not affect his or her relationship to the child, not may it consider abandonment of the family residence if it was to avoid physical harm.

 

Child Support:

Child Support Guidelines set out by statute.  The guidelines are based on the income shares model, based on gross income.  Support may include sums necessary for a child's education, including post-majority education.