| The Kentucky Revised Statutes contain the laws and | | | | the child is under three years of age, the child must |
| guidelines that govern custody proceedings. Within | | | | have lived with the custodian for six months and if the |
| these laws, parents can find information about joint | | | | child is older than three years the child must have lived |
| custody, de facto guardians, and the factors that | | | | with the custodial for one year. There must be |
| influence the best interest of the child. All of this is | | | | evidence that shows the person has provided for the |
| necessary information for a Kentucky custody | | | | children. If a de facto custodian is involved in the child's |
| agreement, and parents must learn these laws so that | | | | life, the parenting plan must include this. De facto |
| they can make the best possible agreement. | | | | custodians are usually grandparents or other relatives, |
| The Statutes give authority to the Kentucky courts to | | | | but it can also be someone else. |
| make decisions about custody matters. Joint custody | | | | The law states very explicitly that the court must base |
| may be granted to the parents if it is in the best | | | | all custody decisions on the best interest of the child. |
| interest of the child. There isn't necessarily a | | | | When the parents are not able to agree on a |
| presumption for joint custody (meaning that joint | | | | parenting plan, the judge will determine the plan. Here |
| custody is awarded unless evidence shows that sole | | | | are some of the factors that the judge considers |
| custody is in the best interest of the child), but the | | | | when thinking about how to decide custody: the |
| state does favor joint custody and encourages | | | | wishes of the parents and the child; the relationship |
| parents to work together on their parenting plan. If a | | | | between the child and the parents; the relationship |
| sole custody arrangement is better for the child, the | | | | between the child and siblings; if there is a de facto |
| court will support that decision. | | | | custodian involved; the child's adjustment to home, |
| Joint custody can also be given to the parents and a | | | | school, and community; etc. These are all important |
| de facto custodian. A de facto custodial is someone | | | | issues that must be addressed in the custody |
| who has been a primary caregiver and financial | | | | agreement. |
| supporter of a child who has resided with the person. If | | | | |