September 21, 2026 • Family Law
Kentucky custody cases start from a presumption of joint custody and equal parenting time — unless there is domestic violence in the record. Since July 15, 2026, amended KRS 403.315 works in three tiers: a DVO turns the joint custody presumption off, two or more acts of domestic violence against the other party flip it to a presumption against joint custody, and that same finding bars custody and unsupervised visitation until the parent completes a batterer’s intervention program, parenting classes, substance use and mental health assessments, and supervised visitation, followed by two more court hearings. Also covers the new rule that domestic violence must be addressed first in writing (KRS 403.270(3)), the new KRS 403.317 protecting the non-offending parent, supervisor training starting January 1, 2027, and a 7-question FAQ.
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August 1, 2026 • Family Law, Criminal Defense & Estate Planning
Kentucky’s new 2026 laws took effect July 15 — and several of them reshape everyday cases. Custody courts must now address domestic violence allegations first, in writing, and repeated findings flip the presumption against joint custody (SB 122). Stalking is now a felony (HB 521), grooming a minor is a new stand-alone offense (HB 4), and fentanyl, clonazepam, and cyclobenzaprine joined the DUI drug list (SB 66). Serious assault convictions now generate automatic protective orders lasting up to ten years (HB 611), and SB 50 rewrites who inherits when a Kentuckian dies without a will — the biggest probate overhaul in decades. Every bill linked to the official record, with effective dates and a full FAQ.
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July 1, 2026 • Family Law
Grandparents, stepparents, and relatives who raise a child that isn’t legally theirs often assume the law will treat them like a parent. Sometimes it does — but only under the strict de facto custodian statute, KRS 403.270. This in-depth guide covers exactly what you must prove (the “the primary caregiver” requirement that sinks most claims), the two other ways a non-parent can seek custody (unfitness and waiver), why “finders keepers” doesn’t apply after Appleman v. Gebell (Ky. 2024), and how a non-parent actually gets into a custody case through CR 24.01 intervention. Anchored in Consalvi, Moore v. Asente, Boone v. Ballinger, and Mullins v. Picklesimer, with a full FAQ.
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June 8, 2026 • Criminal Defense & Expungement
An updated, plain-language guide to clearing a Kentucky criminal record in 2026. Covers what kinds of charges can be cleared (acquittals and dismissals with prejudice under KRS 431.076, misdemeanors under KRS 431.078, Class D felonies under KRS 431.073, substance offenses under KRS 218A.275), the difference between voiding a conviction and sealing a record, common reasons petitions get denied, a step-by-step process walkthrough, and a real case from our office where a charge that looked ineligible was cleared anyway under the single-incident doctrine. Includes a 10-question FAQ and an honest answer to "do I need a lawyer?"
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May 27, 2026 • CPS Defense
A Kentucky parent's first-hour guide to a CPS investigation. Covers your Fourth Amendment rights at the door, what to say and not say to a DCBS investigator, the emergency removal standard under KRS 620.060, the 72-hour temporary removal hearing under KRS 620.090, and when to call an attorney (answer: immediately). Includes a 13-question FAQ covering everything from "Do I have to let CPS in my house?" to "How do I get off the central registry?"
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May 27, 2026 • Estate Planning
The seven Kentucky estate planning mistakes that cost families thousands in probate, taxes, and family disputes. Covers intestate succession under KRS 391, DIY-will pitfalls under KRS 394.040, the non-probate-asset trap that catches blended families, incapacity planning under the Kentucky UPOAA (KRS 386B), and Kentucky inheritance tax under KRS Chapter 140. Plus a 12-question FAQ covering whether you need a will, when to update it, and what happens if you die intestate.
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May 27, 2026 • Legislative Update
The 2026 Kentucky General Assembly passed several bills that materially change practice in family law, criminal defense, and probate. This page covers what became law (HB 422 Logan's Law, HB 366 CSAM 85% time-served, HB 521 stalking restructure, SB 122 family-court procedure amendments, HB 778 child welfare, and more), what was vetoed or failed (SB 290 automatic expungement, HB 418 DV custody, SB 281 grandparent visitation), and the practical impact for Kentucky clients.
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May 27, 2026 • Family Law
A complete walkthrough of filing for divorce in Kentucky, from the 180-day residency requirement under KRS 403.140 through the final decree. Covers preparing the petition, filing fees, service of process, the 60-day cooling-off period when minor children are involved, and the difference between contested and uncontested timelines. Includes the AOC forms you will need and a county-by-county breakdown for Central Kentucky.
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May 27, 2026 • Criminal Defense
A first DUI charge in Kentucky carries up to 30 days in jail, fines, a license suspension, and an ignition interlock device, even before the long-term insurance and employment consequences. This guide breaks down everything under KRS 189A: the BAC thresholds, the six aggravating circumstances that bump up mandatory jail time, how the license process actually works, and the defenses that hold up at trial.
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May 27, 2026 • Family Law
An emergency protective order has been filed against you. What now? This guide explains the dismissal mechanism under KRS 403.740, how the full DVO hearing works, the defenses that succeed, the mistakes that turn an EPO into a permanent DVO, and the long-term consequences (firearms surrender, custody, public record) you need to understand before that hearing.
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March 15, 2026 • Family Law
A published Kentucky Court of Appeals opinion reverses a domestic violence order entered on behalf of minor children, holding that mere exposure to violence against another family member is insufficient. The decision requires child-specific evidence of harm or fear, active GAL participation in appeals, and detailed factual findings from trial courts.
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March 10, 2026 • Criminal Defense
Being arrested for DUI is a frightening experience. This step-by-step guide walks you through your rights, what to expect at arraignment, how your driver’s license is affected, and why hiring an experienced DUI attorney early can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your case.
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March 10, 2026 • Family Law
A custody hearing can determine where your child lives and who makes important decisions about their future. Learn what Kentucky judges evaluate under KRS 403.270, what documentation to gather, how to present yourself in court, and the common mistakes that can hurt your case.
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March 10, 2026 • Family Law
Kentucky law does not require you to hire an attorney for an uncontested divorce, but should you? This guide covers the risks of a DIY divorce, when you absolutely need legal representation, and how to protect yourself from costly mistakes — especially when children, real estate, or retirement accounts are involved.
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