Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Kentucky
A Kentucky dissolution is uncontested when both spouses agree the marriage is irretrievably broken and neither one disputes it. That agreement lets the case move through the standard process under KRS 403.170, without the extra fact-finding a contested case requires. Kentucky has no separate summary or simplified dissolution statute. This faster path inside the standard process is the closest thing to one. Kentucky is also unusual procedurally. It does not publish a standardized, numbered petition form for dissolution. Self-represented filers without children generally use a guided interview through the Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal instead of downloading a fixed state form.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist works under Kentucky law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Kentucky paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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What makes a Kentucky case uncontested
Both spouses agree the marriage is irretrievably broken, with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. Neither spouse denies this in the case. That agreement lets a court proceed under KRS 403.170(1) directly, instead of the additional fact-finding process under KRS 403.170(2) for disputed cases.
Kentucky has used pure no-fault dissolution since 1972. It abolished every fault-based ground and defense by statute: adultery, cruelty, desertion, and even older doctrines like condonation and recrimination. No spouse can raise a fault ground instead.
Petition content and where to get help drafting it
Kentucky does not offer a fill-in-the-blank AOC petition form for dissolution. KRS 403.150(2) instead lists what a verified petition must contain. That list covers each spouse's age, occupation, and residence, the marriage date and place, the separation date, information about any children, and the relief being sought.
Self-represented filers without minor children generally use the Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal's guided interview to generate this pleading. Filers with children, or more complex situations, often need an attorney's help drafting the petition, since no standard form covers those cases.
Document checklist
Prepare a verified petition covering every item KRS 403.150(2) requires. Add a written settlement agreement resolving property and debt, and, if there are children, a parenting arrangement and support terms.
A Kentucky Supreme Court order sets the current circuit court filing fee. That fee changes periodically, so confirm the exact amount with the filing circuit clerk. Kentucky does not publish a general numbered fee-waiver form for civil cases. The Self-Help Portal instead links to a guided motion for waiver of costs and fees.
Residency and the 60-day separation rule
At least one spouse must have lived in Kentucky, or been stationed there in the military, for 180 days before filing. No decree can be entered until the spouses have lived apart for 60 days. Living apart includes living under the same roof without sexual relations, so physically moving out is not required.
When the marriage produced minor children, a separate rule adds another 60-day floor. No testimony beyond temporary motions can be taken until 60 days pass. That period runs from service, the appointment of a warning order attorney, or the other spouse's response, whichever comes first.
Sources: KRS 403.170, dissolution decree and 60-day separation rule, KRS 403.150, required petition content and abolished defenses, KRS 403.140, residency requirement, KRS 403.044, additional waiting period with minor children, Kentucky Court of Justice, Self-Help Portal, Kentucky Supreme Court Order 2026-15, circuit court fees
Not independently confirmed
- Confirm the exact title and form number of the fee-waiver document generated by the Self-Help Portal's guided interview directly on the Self-Help Portal before filing.
- Whether Kentucky's e-filing system currently permits self-represented filers to e-file a dissolution petition, or is limited to attorneys, was not independently confirmed. Confirm with the filing circuit court clerk.
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Kentucky: frequently asked questions
Does Kentucky have a simplified divorce procedure?+
No separate statute distinct from the standard no-fault process. Kentucky's fast path is simply an uncontested case under KRS 403.170(1). Both spouses agree the marriage is irretrievably broken. The court can then proceed without the added fact-finding a contested case requires under KRS 403.170(2).
What is Kentucky's waiting period for dissolution?+
The spouses must have lived apart for at least 60 days before a decree can be entered. Living apart includes living under the same roof without sexual relations. If the marriage involved minor children, a second 60-day rule also applies. That rule is measured from service, the appointment of a warning order attorney, or the other spouse's response, whichever comes first.
What is Kentucky's residency requirement for dissolution?+
At least one spouse must have lived in Kentucky, or been stationed there as a member of the armed services, for 180 days immediately before the petition is filed. This is longer than the residency requirement in many other states, so confirm the timeline carefully before filing.
Where do I get a Kentucky dissolution petition form?+
Kentucky does not publish a numbered, fill-in-the-blank petition form. KRS 403.150(2) lists the required content instead. Self-represented filers without minor children generally use a guided interview through the Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal, which drafts the pleading. More complex cases, including those with children, often need an attorney to draft the petition.
Can I get the Kentucky filing fee waived?+
Possibly, though Kentucky does not publish a numbered general civil fee-waiver form the way many states do. The Self-Help Portal links to a guided interview for a motion to waive costs and fees. Confirm the current circuit court filing fee and the exact waiver process with the filing circuit clerk before filing.
What grounds does Kentucky use for divorce?+
A single ground: the marriage is irretrievably broken, with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. Kentucky abolished all fault-based grounds and defenses by statute in 1972, including adultery, cruelty, desertion, and older doctrines like condonation and recrimination. No spouse can plead fault as a ground or raise it as a defense.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist in Kentucky, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Kentucky's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Kentucky. Virdix does not prepare or file Kentucky divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Kentucky.
More Kentucky divorce guides
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In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Kentucky, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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