KENTUCKY DIVORCE PAPERS WITH SAMPLES AND EXPLANATIONS

The documents listed below are the primary documents for a Kentucky uncontested divorce. You will notice that some of the documents apply with children. If you do not have minor children, these documents are typically not required.

Understanding the Kentucky Divorce Papers:

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage: The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage establishes the jurisdiction, grounds, and states the relief sought. When the petitioner files this document with the court he or she is officially asking the court for the divorce.
• Verification: The verification is a notarized statement signed by the petitioner that he or she filed the Petition in good faith and without collusion.
• Marital Settlement Agreement: The agreement memorializes the terms and conditions of the division and distribution of the marital estate. Depending on the course of the divorce, the MSA is filed with the Entry of Appearance Waiver, or later when the couple reaches an agreement. Both the petitioner and respondent sign the MSA.

Sample Marital Settlement Agreement for Kentucky (First two Pages)

• Schedule for Visitation of Minor Children: This schedule shows the visitation and parenting time routine for the noncustodial parent. It will detail the number or overnights and which parent will have the child(ren) on which holidays.
• Financial Disclosure Statement (Petitioner): The petitioner must file a financial disclosure statement that details his or her financial picture, from employment to assets to liabilities and monthly expenses and may include certain supplemental documents, like pay stubs and tax return. The petitioner must file this form within 45 days of filing the divorce papers.
• Financial Disclosure Statement (Respondent): The respondent must file a financial disclosure statement that details his or her financial picture, from employment to assets to liabilities and monthly expenses and may include certain supplemental documents, like pay stubs and tax return. The respondent must file this form within 45 days of filing the divorce papers.
• Affidavit Regarding the Children: This Affidavit Regarding Minor Children is required for all legal decision making (custody) cases. It establishes proper jurisdiction and gives the court the right to make orders regarding the child(ren).
• Child Support Worksheet: The worksheet generates an appropriate child support obligation according to each spouse's income and other relative numeric factors such as taxes paid and retirement contributions, etc. After computing the amount, it is essential to take a look at any appropriate Kentucky child support deviation factors.
• Child Support Guidelines: Kentucky Child Support Guidelines are based on the Income Share Model, which is calculated by estimating the amount of support that would have been available to the child(ren) if the family had remained intact. This estimated amount is then divided proportionally to the parents according to each parent's income. This is easily done by using the Kentucky Child Support Worksheet and the estimated incomes are typically substantiated by past pay stubs or w-2s.
• Child Support Table: This table shows estimated child support payments on a monthly basis.
• Acknowledgement, Acceptance of Service and Appearance: The Acknowledgement, Acceptance of Service and Appearance, which must be signed by the respondent in the presence of a Notary Public or the Deputy Clerk of the Court, clears the way for the action to move forward. When the respondent spouse signs the Acknowledgement, Acceptance of Service and Appearance, he or she does not receive a Summons, and he or she agrees to the dissolution and does not contest the action.

Sample Acknowledgement, Acceptance of Service and Appearance for Kentucky (Full Document)

• Request for Hearing: The petitioner files this form to request a final hearing.
• Notice of Hearing: The petitioner completes this form, which informs the respondent of the Final Hearing.
• Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decree of Dissolution of Marriage: It clearly defines the court's findings, incorporates the Marital Settlement Agreement "by reference as if fully set out here word for word", and officially ends the marriage.

Sample Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decree of Dissolution of Marriage for Kentucky (First two Pages)