Kentucky · Custody and support · Updated Oct 2026

Child custody and support in Kentucky

For divorcing parents in Kentucky: the legal term for custody, the parenting class, custody mediation and the child support agency.

The short answer

Kentucky law uses the term “custody and timesharing (Kentucky presumes joint custody and equal parenting time)” for custody. Parenting class: Many Kentucky family courts require a parenting class (for example, a 'Families in Transition' program) when you have minor children; check local rules.

Custody term
Custody and timesharing (Kentucky presumes joint custody and equal parenting time)
Parenting class
Depends on the court
Child support agency
Kentucky Child Support (Cabinet for Health and Family Services)

Custody terms in Kentucky

Custody and timesharing (Kentucky presumes joint custody and equal parenting time)

Mediation

Common. Many family courts order mediation in contested custody and property cases.

Parenting class in Kentucky

Many Kentucky family courts require a parenting class (for example, a 'Families in Transition' program) when you have minor children; check local rules.

Child support in Kentucky

Good to know

Kentucky law presumes joint custody and equal parenting time is in the child's best interest (KRS 403.270, since 2018).

Children in a Kentucky divorce: what the process includes

  1. Custody

    The court's orders use Kentucky's term for custody: custody and timesharing (Kentucky presumes joint custody and equal parenting time).

  2. Parenting class

    Many Kentucky family courts require a parenting class (for example, a 'Families in Transition' program) when you have minor children; check local rules.

  3. Mediation

    Common.

  4. The child support agency

    Kentucky's child support agency: Kentucky Child Support (Cabinet for Health and Family Services)

Questions about custody and child support in Kentucky

What is child custody called in Kentucky?

Kentucky uses the term “custody and timesharing (Kentucky presumes joint custody and equal parenting time)”.

Do parents have to take a class in a Kentucky divorce?

Many Kentucky family courts require a parenting class (for example, a 'Families in Transition' program) when you have minor children; check local rules.

Which agency handles child support in Kentucky?

Kentucky Child Support (Cabinet for Health and Family Services).

Is mediation required for custody in Kentucky?

Common. Many family courts order mediation in contested custody and property cases.

More about divorce in Kentucky

Custody and support in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.