50/50 Custody Is Kentucky’s Default

Because of the overwhelming amount of data in support of joint physical custody, Kentucky passed a new law in July of 2018. This law (known as House Bill 528) seeks to promote healthier family dynamics by defaulting to 50/50 custody arrangements in child custody disputes.

Secondly, How does joint custody affect child support in Kentucky? Kentucky law accounts for shared custody of a child directly in the child support formula used to calculate payment amounts. This means that, in cases where custody is shared, the amount of child support paid by the paying parent will be reduced according to the amount of time they have custody of the child.

How far can a parent move with joint custody in KY?

Parents are always free to move on their own whenever they want, but when a parent wants to move a child out of Kentucky or more than 100 miles from their present residence, they must give written notice to the other parent at least 60 days prior to the move.

Similarly, What age can a child decide which parent to live with in KY? There is no particular age when a child’s desire is honored as the deciding factor in determining which parent shall have custody. When making child custody decisions, Kentucky law states that the judge must do what is in the best interest of the child.

Do you have to pay child support if you have joint custody in Kentucky?

Child support is intended to make both households as equal as possible. So even if it is joint custody, if one parent makes significantly more income than the other, they may have to pay child support.

Is Kentucky a mom State? As of new guidelines passed in 2018, Kentucky is the only U.S. state that defaults to joint child custody in cases involving divorce or unmarried parents. This new law mandates equal parenting time and legal custody unless one or both parents have a history of abuse.

What is the minimum child support payment in Kentucky? The minimum amount of child support is $60 per month. The court can use its judicial discretion to determine child support obligations if the parents’ gross income exceed the uppermost levels of the guideline table.

What makes a parent unfit in Kentucky? What exactly is an unfit parent? The legal definition of an unfit parent is when the parent through their conduct fails to provide proper guidance, care, or support. Also, if there is abuse, neglect, or substance abuse issues, that parent will be deemed unfit.

Can a child refuse visitation in Kentucky?

If a child simply refuses to live with one parent, courts may award custody to the other parent. In one case, two girls, aged 12 and 16, refused to live with their mother, who had mental health problems; the court honored their request to live with their father.

What rights does a father have in Kentucky? Unmarried Fathers Rights in Kentucky

If a child is born between two unmarried people, then the father does not have any rights to custody or visitation, until paternity is established. Paternity can be established by signing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP) or by genetic testing.

Does a mother have more rights than a father?

However, it remains a common misconception that mothers have more rights than fathers. In fact, if each parent has parental responsibility for a child, their rights and responsibilities are equal.

Do you have to pay child support if you have joint custody? If both parents equally share the care of the children, then neither parent will make child maintenance payments or be responsible for child support arrangements.

Can I waive child support in Kentucky?

Neither parent can waive the child support obligation set forth in the Kentucky Child Support Guidelines. Child support orders in Kentucky are based on the income of the parent and amount of time each parent spend with the children.

What is an unstable parent?

In California, an unfit parent is a parent who, through their conduct, fails to provide proper guidance, care, or support to their children. This can include not only a parent’s actions but also a home environment where abuse, neglect, or substance abuse is present.

What do judges look for in child custody cases? The child’s age, gender, characteristics and background will all be a factor in the decision process. The judge or magistrate will want to ensure that the child is safe from any possible harm and the parent has the ability to meet the child’s needs.

How do I prove I am a better parent in court? Keep a file of the following records to prove that you are a great parent:

  1. Birth Certificate.
  2. Social Security Card.
  3. Academic Transcripts.
  4. Behavioral Reports.
  5. Awards and Certifications.
  6. Health Records.

What is standard visitation in KY?

The non-custodial parent shall have a four (4) week visitation each summer for children four (4) years of age or older in which there shall bob be a visitation period longer than two (2) week at one time. For children two (2) and three (3) years of age, the non-custodial parent shall have two (2) weeks of visitation.

How do I get visitation rights in Kentucky? You must file a letter with the local district court in the county where your grandchild lives. If for some reason you have filed a form and have a visitation order and the child’s parent is preventing you from visitation ask the court to enforce the order. You must however write another petition.

What is considered parental kidnapping in Kentucky?

(f) To deprive the parents or guardian of the custody of a minor, when the person taking the minor is not a person exercising custodial control or supervision of the minor as the term ā€œperson exercising custodial control or su-pervisionā€ is defined in KRS 600.020.

Does a father have rights if not on birth certificate? If a father is not named on the birth certificate, they have no legal rights regarding their child. However, the father can enter into a Parental Responsibility Agreement with the mother, which would give the father the same rights as the mother, or the father can apply to court for a Parental Responsibility Order.

How much does it cost to file for custody in Kentucky?

A fee of $25 is generally required for filing either a custody or visitation petition in court. There may be an additional fee for serving the other parent with the custody papers, which is usually done by a sheriff, third party, or process server.

Are fathers entitled to 50/50 custody? Parents commonly choose 50/50 custody when they reach an agreement, and it can also be ordered by a court following trial, if appropriate.

Can I stop my child from seeing his dad?

A mother cannot stop a father seeing his child unless the court orders to do so. If the child is scared of the father due to some kind of abuse or harm, then the mother would need to speak to the child and gather evidence which may prove the child being at risk.

Can a father take a child away without mother’s consent? If a father wants to take their child abroad for holiday then a mother can stop them taking the child away unless the father has child residence in which case they can take the child away for up to 28 days. In all other cases the father must either obtain the mothers written consent or consent from the court.


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