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[ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapter: 403.140]

LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE:

If both of the parties by petition or otherwise have stated under oath or affirmation that the marriage is irretrievably broken, or one of the parties has so stated and the other has not denied it, the court, after hearing, shall make a finding whether the marriage is irretrievably broken. No decree shall be entered until the parties have lived apart for 60 days. Living apart shall include living under the same roof without sexual cohabitation. The court may order a conciliation conference as a part of the hearing. [Based on Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapter: 403.170]

LEGAL SEPARATION:

If a party requests a decree of legal separation rather than a decree of dissolution of marriage, the court shall grant the decree in that form unless the other party objects, in which latter event the other provisions of this chapter shall apply. No earlier than one year after entry of a decree of legal separation, the court on motion of either party shall convert the decree to a decree of dissolution of marriage.

[ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapters: 403.140 and 403.230]

MEDIATION OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS:

The court may order a conciliation conference as a part of the hearing to determine if the marriage is irretrievably broken. If there is a finding of domestic violence, the court shall not order mediation unless requested by the victim of the alleged domestic violence and abuse, and the court finds that: (1) The victim s request is voluntary and not the result of coercion; and (2) Mediation is a realistic and viable alternative to or adjunct to the issuance of an order sought by the victim of the alleged domestic violence and abuse. [ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapters: 403.036, 403.170]

PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION:

Kentucky is an equitable distribution state. the court shall divide the marital property without regard to marital misconduct in just proportions considering all relevant factors including:

• Contribution of each spouse to acquisition of the marital property. including contribution of a spouse as homemaker.
• Value of the property set apart to each spouse.
• Duration of the marriage.
• Economic circumstances of each spouse when the division of property is to become effective, including the desirability of awarding the family home or the right to live therein for reasonable periods to the spouse having custody of any children.

Marital property means all property acquired by either spouse subsequent to the marriage except:

• Property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent during the marriage and the income derived from it unless there are significant activities of either spouse which contributed to the increase in value of said property and the income earned from it.
• Property acquired in exchange for property acquired before the marriage or in exchange for property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent.
• Property acquired by a spouse after a decree of legal separation.
• Property excluded by valid agreement of the parties.
• The increase in value of property acquired before the marriage to the extent that such increase did not result from the efforts of the parties during marriage.

All property acquired by either spouse after the marriage and before a decree of legal separation is presumed to be marital property, regardless of whether title is held individually or by the spouses in some form of co-ownership such as joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety, and community property. The presumption of marital property is overcome by a showing that the property was acquired by a method listed in section above. [ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapter: 403.190]

ALIMONY/MAINTENANCE/SPOUSAL SUPPORT:

The court may grant a maintenance order for either spouse only if it finds that the spouse seeking maintenance:

• Lacks sufficient property, including marital property apportioned to him, to provide for his reasonable needs.
• Is unable to support himself through appropriate employment or is the custodian of a child whose condition or circumstances make it appropriate that the custodian not be required to seek employment outside the home.

The maintenance order shall be in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just, and after considering all relevant factors including:

• The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including marital property apportioned to him, and his ability to meet his needs independently, including the extent to which a provision for support of a child living with the party includes a sum for that party as custodian.
• The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment.
• The standard of living established during the marriage;(d) The duration of the marriage.
• The age, and the physical and emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance.
• The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet his needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance.

[ Kentucky Statutes - Title 35 - Chapter: 403.200]

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