Kentucky · Uncontested divorce · Updated Oct 2026

Uncontested divorce in Kentucky

What couples who agree need to know in Kentucky: who can use the process for agreed cases, the residency rule, the waiting period, the official forms, the fee waiver, e-filing, how your spouse can sign instead of being served and mediation.

The short answer

Agreed cases in Kentucky, according to the official sources: If you agree and have no children, the Kentucky courts' self-help portal has a guided 'Divorce without Children' interview.

Who can file (residency)
180 days
Waiting period
See the rule
Filing fee
Check with your court

Who can use the process for agreed cases in Kentucky

  • If you agree and have no children, the Kentucky courts' self-help portal has a guided 'Divorce without Children' interview.
  • Agreed divorces are often decided on affidavits and a settlement agreement without a contested hearing after the 60 days, depending on local rules.

Before you file in Kentucky

Who can file (residency)
You or your spouse must have lived in Kentucky (or been stationed there in the military) for 180 days before you file.
Waiting period
No decree can be entered until you and your spouse have lived apart for 60 days. Living apart can be under the same roof, as long as you don't have sex. If you have minor children, expect the court to wait at least 60 days after service before taking final testimony (ask your clerk about local practice).
Law
KRS 403.140(1)(a) · KRS 403.170(1); KRS 403.044 (children)

Forms, fees and filing in Kentucky

Official forms
Divorce forms (Kentucky courts)
Court self-help
Divorce self-help (Kentucky courts)
If you can't afford the fee
File a motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Waiver of Costs and Fees); the Kentucky courts' self-help portal has a guided interview: https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx
E-filing
Kentucky uses File & Serve (eFiling), mainly for attorneys; self-represented people usually file on paper with the circuit clerk.

If your spouse agrees to sign

Your spouse can sign an Entry of Appearance and Waiver instead.

If you agree on only some issues

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

An uncontested divorce in Kentucky, step by step

  1. Check that you can file in Kentucky

    You or your spouse must have lived in Kentucky (or been stationed there in the military) for 180 days before you file.

  2. See if you qualify for the simpler process

    If you agree and have no children, the Kentucky courts' self-help portal has a guided 'Divorce without Children' interview.

  3. Fill in the official forms

    Use the court's official divorce forms: Divorce forms (Kentucky courts)

  4. File, and pay the fee or ask for a waiver

    Can't afford it? File a motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Waiver of Costs and Fees); the Kentucky courts' self-help portal has a guided interview: https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx. Kentucky uses File & Serve (eFiling), mainly for attorneys; self-represented people usually file on paper with the circuit clerk.

  5. Have your spouse sign or be served

    Your spouse can sign an Entry of Appearance and Waiver instead.

  6. Wait out the waiting period

    No decree can be entered until you and your spouse have lived apart for 60 days.

  7. Get the final decree

    The judge signs the final decree (judgment), which ends the marriage. Get a certified copy and keep it.

Questions about uncontested divorce in Kentucky

Is there a simplified divorce for agreed cases in Kentucky?

If you agree and have no children, the Kentucky courts' self-help portal has a guided 'Divorce without Children' interview. Agreed divorces are often decided on affidavits and a settlement agreement without a contested hearing after the 60 days, depending on local rules.

How long does an uncontested divorce take in Kentucky?

No decree can be entered until you and your spouse have lived apart for 60 days. Living apart can be under the same roof, as long as you don't have sex. If you have minor children, expect the court to wait at least 60 days after service before taking final testimony (ask your clerk about local practice).

Who can file for an uncontested divorce in Kentucky?

You or your spouse must have lived in Kentucky (or been stationed there in the military) for 180 days before you file.

Does my spouse have to be served if we agree in Kentucky?

Your spouse can sign an Entry of Appearance and Waiver instead.

Can we file for divorce online in Kentucky?

Kentucky uses File & Serve (eFiling), mainly for attorneys; self-represented people usually file on paper with the circuit clerk.

Is mediation required in Kentucky?

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

More about divorce in Kentucky

Uncontested divorce in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.