Getting a divorce in Louisville
Court finds benefit in variety of divorce education programs
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Please see “Divorce in Kentucky” for general information and specifics such as:
- counseling
- domestic violence
- residency requirements
- other online resources.
Lone urban area gets court reorganization
The Louisville metro area is served by the Jefferson District Court, which is undergoing reorganization, as announced June 1:
As the commonwealth’s only truly urban court, Jefferson County is unique in the volume and scope of the cases it handles. The logistics of District Court are especially challenging. The district judges recognize these complex issues and have approached this reorganization with an open mind and an innovative spirit. They collectively redesigned the work of their court so that it will operate more efficiently. Their tremendous undertaking has brought us to this day.
I’m greatly encouraged by what has been accomplished in Jefferson County because of a willingness to take on this problem and find solutions. These changes will benefit the citizens of Jefferson County who use this system and will benefit courts throughout the state who can learn from this model.
–Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr.
Divorce Education mandated in more than half of circuit courts
The court is gung-ho about divorce education, saying on its main DE page that more “than half of Kentucky’s 56 judicial circuits have some form of Divorce Education that is mandated by the local circuit courts.” So if you’re in the Louisville metro area, you can probably expect mandated education course to be part of your divorce process.
According to the court, “Research shows divorce education programs [in which] parents master skills are more effective in reducing litigation and feel they are better able to help their children than the didactic formatted programs (Family and Conciliation Courts Review, Arbuthnot, J, Kramer, K, & Gordon, D July 1997 PP 269-279). Several experimental studies of lengthier, research-based programs designed to facilitate children’s post-divorce adjustment have been conducted that show promising behavioral and psychological changes in both parents and children (Haine, Sandler, Wolchik, Tein, & Dawson-McClure, 2003). Program content that includes strength-based skills, rather than focusing on the weaknesses can improve the future outcomes of the children, the parents, and the family.”
Some programs not restricted to divorcing couples
Another aspect of this educational push is the Cooperative Parenting and Divorce Program, “an intensive eight-week program designed to assist divorcing or divorced parents in reducing parental conflict and the risk factors that influence the child’s post divorce adjustment. This program is not only for divorcing or divorced parents, it can also include paternity cases; abuse, neglect, dependency cases; unmarried couples; and any action of the court involving children who may be placed in the middle of conflict. The program addresses the relationship between separate households that resulted from parental conflict. It is designed to improve the quality of the parental relationship in situations of custody, separate maintenance, change of custody, child support, paternity and etc. The program is suited for those parents exhibiting moderate to mild levels of conflict.”
A smorgasbord of programs
Other programs include:
Divorce Care, a “religion-based” course;
PACT (Parents Achieving with Collaborative Teams): Jefferson County project;
Free evaluation
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