(1) As a division of Circuit Court with general jurisdiction pursuant to Section 112(6) of the Constitution of Kentucky, a family court division of Circuit Court shall retain jurisdiction in the following cases:
(a) Dissolution of marriage; (b) Child custody;

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Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 23A.100

  • Domestic: when applied to a corporation, partnership, business trust, or limited liability company, means all those incorporated or formed by authority of this state. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.

(c) Visitation;
(d) Maintenance and support;
(e) Equitable distribution of property in dissolution cases; (f) Adoption; and
(g) Termination of parental rights.
(2) In addition to general jurisdiction of Circuit Court, a family court division of Circuit
Court shall have the following additional jurisdiction:
(a) Domestic violence and abuse proceedings under KRS Chapter 403 subsequent to the issuance of an emergency protective order in accord with local protocols under KRS § 403.725;
(b) Proceedings under the Uniform Act on Paternity, KRS Chapter 406, and the
Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, KRS § 407.5101 to KRS § 407.5902;
(c) Dependency, neglect, and abuse proceedings under KRS Chapter 620; and
(d) Juvenile status offenses under KRS Chapter 630, except where proceedings under KRS Chapter 635 or 640 are pending.
(3) Family court divisions of Circuit Court shall be the primary forum for cases in this section, except that nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the concurrent jurisdiction of District Court.
Effective: January 1, 2016
History: Amended 2015 Ky. Acts ch. 102, sec. 38, effective January 1, 2016. — Repealed, reenacted, and amended 2003 Ky. Acts ch. 66, sec. 1, effective June 24,
2003. — Created 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 517, sec. 1, effective September 1, 1998.