Last amended January 1, 2023 · Current through July 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026
In one sentenceFCRPP 1 states what the Family Court rules are for, declares that they may be cited as “FCRPP,” applies them to every family law action, and makes them prevail over any conflicting local rule.
(1)Kentucky's Family Court represents an institutional change intended to improve the delivery of court services to families and children. The Family Court Rules of Procedure and Practice supplement the statutes, rules and procedures governing Family Law cases with rules and procedures which further assist the court, counsel, and parties in achieving the Court's objective while preserving the rule of law. See generally Kuprion v. FitzGerald, 888 S.W.2d 679 (Ky. 1994).
(2)These rules constitute a separate section of the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure and shall be known as the Kentucky Family Court Rules of Procedure and Practice. They may be cited as such, or by the abbreviation “FCRPP.” KRS 403.130(1).
(3)These Rules shall apply to the procedure and practice in all family law actions including dissolution of marriage; custody and child support; parenting time, time-sharing, and visitation; property division; maintenance; domestic violence; paternity; dependency; neglect or abuse; termination of parental rights; and adoption; or any and all other causes of action exclusively within the jurisdiction of Family Court. Procedural rules for special statutory proceedings shall prevail over any inconsistent FCRPP. CR 1.
(4)Self represented litigants shall be held to knowledge of these rules.
(5)The Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rules of Appellate Procedure, and Rules of Evidence shall apply to family law cases to the extent that they are not inconsistent with these rules.
(6)Child parenting time, time-sharing, and visitation are synonymous for the purpose of these rules unless, under the facts of the case, the law requires otherwise.
(7)No local rules, practices, procedures, orders, or other policies of any district or circuit may conflict with or controvert these rules; further, in the event that any such local rules, practices, procedures, orders, or other policies are or otherwise conflict with these rules, these rules shall prevail.
End
Amendment History
Kentucky publishes each rule’s amendment record as a “HISTORY” note beneath the rule, citing the Supreme Court order that adopted or amended it and that order’s effective date. It is reproduced verbatim below.
HISTORY: Amended by Order 2022-49, eff. 1-1-23. Adopted by Order 2020-1, eff. 2-1-20
Plain-English Summary
The opening rule explains the whole scheme. Kentucky's Family Court was an institutional change meant to improve how courts serve families and children, and these rules supplement the statutes and procedures already governing family law with additional procedure that helps the court, counsel and parties reach the court's objective while preserving the rule of law.
Their reach is broad. They apply to dissolution of marriage; custody and child support; parenting time, time-sharing and visitation; property division; maintenance; domestic violence; paternity; dependency, neglect or abuse; termination of parental rights; adoption; and anything else exclusively within Family Court's jurisdiction. Where a special statutory proceeding has its own procedural rules, those prevail over an inconsistent FCRPP.
Three provisions are worth knowing before anything else. The Civil, Criminal, Appellate and Evidence rules all continue to apply to family cases except where inconsistent with these. Parenting time, time-sharing and visitation mean the same thing throughout unless the facts and the law require otherwise. And no local rule, practice, procedure, order or policy may conflict with these rules — if one does, these prevail. Self-represented litigants are held to knowledge of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does FCRPP stand for?
The Kentucky Family Court Rules of Procedure and Practice. The rules themselves provide that they may be cited as such, or by the abbreviation “FCRPP.”
Do the ordinary civil rules still apply in Family Court?
Yes. The Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rules of Appellate Procedure and Rules of Evidence apply to family law cases to the extent they are not inconsistent with these rules.
What happens if a local rule conflicts with the FCRPP?
These rules prevail. No local rules, practices, procedures, orders or other policies of any district or circuit may conflict with or controvert them.
Are parenting time, time-sharing and visitation different things?
Not for the purposes of these rules. They are synonymous unless, under the facts of the case, the law requires otherwise.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
Kentucky Family Court Rules of Procedure and Practice (Ky. FCRPP FCRPP 1). Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Kentucky. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 8, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:FCRPP scopefamily court rules Kentuckytitle purpose and scopewhich rules apply family courtlocal rules conflict