Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100 (2026)

Jurisdiction of family court

✓ current as of May 2026

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(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; (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 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 -- Repealed, reenacted, and amended 2003 Ky.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.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 36 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 2005–2026 · leading case: Holt v. Holt, 458 S.W.3d 806 (Ky. Ct. App. 2015).

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Holt v. Holt, 458 S.W.3d 806 (Ky. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 5× “The extent of a family court’s jurisdiction is set forth in KRS 23A.100. In relevant part, this provision provides: “(2) In addition to general jurisdiction of Circuit Court, a family court division of Circuit Court shall have the following additional' jurisdiction: .”

Maclean v. Middleton, 419 S.W.3d 755 (Ky. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 3× “In addition to the family matters heard in Circuit Court, Family Court judges also handle family law matters that were traditionally decided in District Court.”

Gomez v. Gomez, 254 S.W.3d 838 (Ky. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “The jurisdiction of a family court is defined in KRS 23A.100: (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)…”

Daugherty v. TELEK, 366 S.W.3d 463 (Ky. 2012). · cites it 2× “" Further, KRS 23A.100(2), which assigns specific types of cases to family court divisions of the Circuit Court provides, in relevant part: "In addition to general jurisdiction of Circuit Court, a family court division of Circuit Court shall have the following additional…”

B.C. v. B.T., 182 S.W.3d 213 (Ky. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 4× “KRS 23A.100 specifically states that the family court is “a division of Circuit Court with general jurisdiction pursuant to Section 112(6) of the Constitution of Kentucky.”

Morgan v. Getter, 441 S.W.3d 94 (Ky. 2014). “See KRS 23A.100 (establishing family court jurisdiction over family-related matters ranging from paternity determinations to marriage dissolu-tions to juvenile status and dependency actions to termination of rights and adoption proceedings).”

Uninsured Employers' Fund v. Bradley, 244 S.W.3d 741 (Ky. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 5× “As noted by the estate, Section 112 of the Constitution of Kentucky and KRS 23A.100 and 23A.110 provide support for its contention that the family court does have jurisdiction.”

J.N.R. v. O'Reilly, 264 S.W.3d 587 (Ky. 2008). · cites it 2× “" And KRS 23A.100(2)(b) confers the general jurisdiction of the circuit court on a family court division of the circuit court for proceedings under the Uniform Act on Paternity.”

Pursley v. Pursley, 242 S.W.3d 346 (Ky. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 5× “, § 112(6) and KRS 23A.100, we do not believe that such jurisdiction was intended to be exclusive.”

Officer v. Blankenship, 555 S.W.3d 449 (Ky. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “A family court retains the general jurisdiction of a circuit court, but is also vested with additional jurisdiction as may be provided by the General Assembly.”

Wallace v. Wallace, 224 S.W.3d 587 (Ky. Ct. App. 2007). “In those circuits where the Supreme Court has designated a family court division, matters set forth in KRS 23A.100, including child custody and visitation, are now exclusively vested in the family court.”

Shafizadeh v. Shafizadeh, 444 S.W.3d 437 (Ky. Ct. App. 2012). “KRS 23A.100 (“[A] family court division of Circuit Court shall retain jurisdiction in the following cases: (a) Dissolution of marriage; (b) Child custody; (c) Visitation; (d) Maintenance and support; [and] (e) Equitable distribution of property in dissolution cases[.”

Show all 36 citing cases →

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(1) — 2 cases

Maclean v. Middleton, 419 S.W.3d 755 (Ky. Ct. App. 2014). “In addition to the family matters heard in Circuit Court, Family Court judges also handle family law matters that were traditionally decided in District Court.”

Uninsured Employers' Fund v. Bradley, 244 S.W.3d 741 (Ky. Ct. App. 2007). “As noted by the estate, Section 112 of the Constitution of Kentucky and KRS 23A.100 and 23A.110 provide support for its contention that the family court does have jurisdiction.”

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(1)(b) — 2 cases

Gaines v. Hagerty (W.D. Ky. 2022).

Bc v. Bt, 182 S.W.3d 213 (Ky. Ct. App. 2005).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(1)(d) — 2 cases

Brian of the Fam. Boyd v. Child Support Div. (W.D. Ky. 2020).

Jyrome of the Fam. Paige v. Child Support Prog. (W.D. Ky. 2020).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(1)(e) — 2 cases

Cristina Arce v. Javier Arce, Md. (Ky. Ct. App. 2021).

Chastity Ellison v. Hon. Terri Schoborg (Ky. 2026).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(2) — 1 case

Daugherty v. TELEK, 366 S.W.3d 463 (Ky. 2012). “" Further, KRS 23A.100(2), which assigns specific types of cases to family court divisions of the Circuit Court provides, in relevant part: "In addition to general jurisdiction of Circuit Court, a family court division of Circuit Court shall have the following additional…”

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(2)(a) — 2 cases

Gomez v. Gomez, 254 S.W.3d 838 (Ky. Ct. App. 2008). “The jurisdiction of a family court is defined in KRS 23A.100: (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)…”

Byrdwell v. Showalter Goodwin (W.D. Ky. 2020).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(2)(b) — 7 cases

J.N.R. v. O'Reilly, 264 S.W.3d 587 (Ky. 2008). “" And KRS 23A.100(2)(b) confers the general jurisdiction of the circuit court on a family court division of the circuit court for proceedings under the Uniform Act on Paternity.”

J.A.S. v. Bushelman, 342 S.W.3d 850 (Ky. 2011).

S.B. v. M.C., 352 S.W.3d 345 (Ky. Ct. App. 2011).

Commonwealth of Kentucky, Cabinet for Health & Fam. Servs., Ex Rel. Child Support Enf't v. B.N.T. (Ky. 2022).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(2)(c) — 3 cases

B.C. v. B.T., 182 S.W.3d 213 (Ky. Ct. App. 2005). “KRS 23A.100 specifically states that the family court is “a division of Circuit Court with general jurisdiction pursuant to Section 112(6) of the Constitution of Kentucky.”

Bc v. Bt, 182 S.W.3d 213 (Ky. Ct. App. 2005).

Thorn v. Commonwealth, 181 S.W.3d 560 (Ky. Ct. App. 2005).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(3) — 1 case

Holt v. Holt, 458 S.W.3d 806 (Ky. Ct. App. 2015). “The extent of a family court’s jurisdiction is set forth in KRS 23A.100. In relevant part, this provision provides: “(2) In addition to general jurisdiction of Circuit Court, a family court division of Circuit Court shall have the following additional' jurisdiction: .”

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(c) — 1 case

Officer v. Blankenship, 555 S.W.3d 449 (Ky. Ct. App. 2018). “A family court retains the general jurisdiction of a circuit court, but is also vested with additional jurisdiction as may be provided by the General Assembly.”

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 23A.100(l)(b) — 1 case

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