Some legal requirements vary depending on the type of divorce you are seeking, but many factors also play a role on the length it takes for a divorce to be finalized in Kentucky such as:
- Residency requirements: There is a requirement that one or both parties must be residents of Kentucky. To qualify as a resident, you must be registered to vote here, have a valid driver’s license, or pay state taxes;
- Time allowed to respond: It could take about a week to serve the non-filing spouse with the divorce papers. If there are no contested issues in the divorce, the court can finalize it as soon as 20 days after service is complete;
- Contested or Uncontested divorce: If both parties can reach an agreement on all major issues such as alimony, child support, and division of property, an uncontested divorce is usually finalized as soon as the waiting period is over. In contested divorces in Kentucky, time is needed for discovery, gathering evidence, and taking depositions. Only then do these cases find a place on the court’s trial schedule. After the trial, the judge needs time to review all evidence and issue a decision later;
- Minor children: When there are minors involved, other requirements come into play that could prolong the divorce;
- Separation requirements: Kentucky law specifies that you and your spouse must live apart for at least 60 days before the final divorce decree can be entered.