Divorce Law in Lexington, KY
Divorce Law refers to the legal termination of a marriage and often involves working through several complicated issues.
Are you facing a costly divorce in Lexington, Kentucky? Does your estranged spouse have an attorney? Usually, couples going through a divorce are unable to compromise on most items and reach an agreement on their own. Thus, many couples go through mediation or the court system to resolve their case.
Issues Involved in Lexington, Kentucky Divorce Law
There are many complicated issues that you need to settle during the divorce process. Many of these elicit strong emotions from one party or the other, resulting in volatility.
Dividing Property
Dividing property, debts, and assets is often one of the most complex aspects of the divorce process. In many states, including , anything acquired during the marriage is considered marital property and subject to division. This can include real estate, bank accounts, vehicles, stocks, and other shared assets.
Some states require an equal 50/50 split of marital property, while others follow an equitable distribution approach. Under equitable distribution, the judge evaluates each spouse’s contributions to the marriage to determine a fair division. This means the split may not be perfectly equal but is intended to be just based on the circumstances.
Child Support
Both parents are responsible for paying for the care of their children. There is a child support guideline that helps determine how much each parent should contribute based on their income and the amount of time they spend with the children. Child support pays for things such as healthcare, food, clothing, and other basic needs.
Child support is calculated in Lexington on a gradual scale. One child means a non-custodial parent has to pay 20% of their income in child support. The percentage grows by 5% for every additional child, up to 6 children.
Alimony
Alimony, or spousal support, can vary dramatically depending on the marriage, and Lexington, KY divorce law court looks at multiple factors when determining the amount and length of alimony, including:
- A spouse’s need and the other spouse’s ability to pay
- The age and health of each spouse
- The length of the marriage
- Each spouse’s earning capacity and level of education
- The division of property
- Parental responsibility of the children
- Sole investments and assets of either spouse
Women’s Law states that Kentucky has 3 types of basic alimony. These are temporary, short-term, and permanent.
Child Custody and Visitation
Child custody is perhaps the most emotional issue during a divorce that involves children. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the court bases all decisions on what is in the best interest of the child. Keeping this in mind may help navigate the rough waters of custody.
The Kentucky State Legislature affirms that the best interest of the child is at the forefront of any decisions handed down by the court in a divorce proceeding. The court examines the net incomes of both spouses, the time a parent has to spend with a child, and the child’s emotional attachment to both parents. If at all possible, the court will try and help the parents settle on joint custody to disrupt the child’s life as little as possible. However, if there is a pattern of abuse or violence the court awards sole custody to protect the child.
Generally, Lexington, Kentucky courts award joint legal custody giving both parents the legal right to make decisions for the children, such as education, medical care, and religious practices. Legal custody has nothing to do with physical custody or visitation. Joint custody does not mean both parents split time with the child evenly, just as Sole legal custody does not bar the non-custodial parent from visiting the child.
The Process of Going Through Divorce Law in Lexington, Kentucky
Are you leaning towards getting a divorce from your partner? If so, it is important to understand the necessary steps of the divorce law process.
Step 1: File the Divorce Law Petition
The divorce law process begins when one spouse files a legal petition to terminate the marriage. The petition must include:
- A legal reason for divorce (grounds for divorce)
- A statement that shows at least one spouse meets the state’s residency requirements for divorce
- Other statutory information your state requires
Most states offer the option for filing a no-fault divorce, which does not require a legal reason for the divorce.
The Legal Aid Network of Kentucky states that the courts will accept a no-fault divorce. The couple need only file and cite irreconcilable differences.
Step 2: Request Temporary Orders
The divorce law process in Lexington can take several months, but temporary orders can be requested and approved for a multitude of reasons, including:
- Child custody
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Property restraining orders
- Status quo orders
Request temporary orders as quickly as possible so you are not absent the resources or protection that you need.
Step 3: Serve Your Spouse and Wait for Their Response
If you file for divorce, you must ensure that your spouse is properly served with the divorce papers and then file proof of service with the court. If your spouse accepts the service, they’ll need to complete an affidavit confirming this. In many cases, however, the petitioner must hire a process server or sheriff to officially serve the papers. This third party will then file the proof of service with the court.
Step 4: Try To Come to an Agreement
The best outcome for anyone going through this process is to have an uncontested divorce, meaning both spouses agree on all issues.
This can be reached between both partners or with the help of a mediator. Not only will this save each spouse money, but there will typically be a lot less animosity.
Step 5: Go To Court
If you and your spouse are unable to reach an agreement, then the case continues before a Lexington, KY judge. While there is some benefit to having a judge hand down orders, it may also be a detriment as there is little to no control of the agreement by the parties.
Residents of Lexington filing for divorce will have to do so with the Lexington Circuit Court Clerk. An experienced divorce attorney can help you through this process.
Step 6: Receive the Judgement of Divorce
The divorce law trial will end with the official judgment of divorce, ending the marriage. This final dissolution of marriage sets out the details about property and debt division, child custody, and all relevant issues between the couple.
Work With an Experienced Lexington, Kentucky Divorce Law Attorney
If you are going through a divorce and are unable to reach an agreement with your partner, you should hire an experienced Lexington divorce law attorney. A lawyer will fight for you and make sure you get what is yours. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Kentucky state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
