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FCRPP 2.Preliminary matters

Last amended January 1, 2023 · Current through July 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026

In one sentenceFCRPP 2 gathers the preliminary machinery of a dissolution case — what the original pleadings must include, which court controls when actions are filed in two circuits, mandatory disclosure within 45 days, releases within 14 days, status quo orders, and what a contempt motion must say.

Full Text of FCRPP 2

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(1) Original Pleadings. All original pleadings, including forms, in a dissolution action shall be signed by the preparer, filed with the clerk of the court, and if applicable, shall include, unless otherwise ordered by the court, the following:
(a) A verified petition;
(b) Proof of service;
(c) A verified response, or a verified entry of appearance in lieu of a response;
(d) A verified separation agreement, unless filing is waived by the court pursuant to KRS 403.180(4)(b);
(e) The Final Verified Disclosure Statement;
(f) A verified waiver of notice of final hearing;
(g) A verified deposition or interrogatories for proof of the allegations of the petition if done without a hearing;
(h) A divorce education certificate, if required by the court; and
(i) A child support work sheet.
(2) Multiple Actions. When actions concerning the same underlying claims are filed in different circuit courts within this state, the first action filed shall be the controlling action, subject to transfer by the court of that circuit on a motion for forum non conveniens or other appropriate legal grounds. A motion for transfer shall be filed prior to or with the response. On notice to the parties, the courts in both circuits may confer concerning proper venue.
(3) Preliminary Mandatory Disclosure. A preliminary disclosure statement, which is verified and contains the information required in the official AOC form, AOC-238 (Preliminary Verified Disclosure Statement), shall be exchanged between the parties within 45 days of service of the petition on the respondent, and objections thereto shall be exchanged 21 days thereafter but the disclosures shall not be filed in the record unless ordered by the court or required by local rule.
(4) Execution of Releases. Within 14 days of receiving a written request, made outside of formal discovery, for a signed release for specific information and/or documents, the party requested shall sign and return the release(s) unless a motion is made pursuant to CR 26 for a protective order. Such release(s) shall contain a provision directing that any information and/or documents provided to the requesting counsel or pro se party shall simultaneously be provided to opposing counsel or the pro se party, all at requesting party's expense. Non-compliance with this rule may be grounds for a motion to compel discovery pursuant to CR 37.
(5) Status Quo Orders.
(a) Financial Matters: Without limiting a party's relief under CR 65, upon notice and evidentiary hearing, a court may enter a temporary status quo order preserving and maintaining the marital estate and assigning responsibility for payment of ongoing expenses. Any such order may be entered on the official AOC form, AOC-237 (Status Quo Order), and may include, but is not limited to, the provisions contained in Appendix A.
(b) Parenting Conduct: If the court believes that it is in the best interest of the child, the court may, either sua sponte or on motion of a party, enter a parenting status quo order. Any parenting conduct order may be entered on a form prescribed by the Administrative Office of the Courts and may include, but is not limited to, any provision contained in Appendix B. The provisions in Appendix B are not binding upon the parties unless ordered by the court in the action.
(6) Mediation and Case Management. Rules regarding mediation and case management are found in FCRPP 39 and 40.
(7) Trial. The trial shall not be continued except as otherwise ordered for good cause shown.
(8) Temporary Motions.
(a) All ex parte motions shall either be verified or supported by an affidavit, one of which states sufficient grounds for a restraining order or injunctive relief under CR 65; if granted, the motion shall be set for hearing with all parties at the earliest available date.
(b) Any pendente lite motions shall be served on the opposing party and set for a hearing before the court unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.
(c) Simultaneously filed motions may be supported by a single affidavit.
(9) Contempt Motions, Generally
(a) All motions for contempt shall include the date of entry and specific provision of the order allegedly violated.
(b) All motions for contempt shall be under oath, either verified or accompanied by affidavit, and describe with particularity the conduct claimed to violate the court's order.
(c) When contempt is alleged by motion, the court shall make an initial determination whether there is sufficient cause to believe its order was violated. If the court determines sufficient cause does not exist, then no show cause order shall be issued; otherwise, once service of the show cause order is effectuated on the alleged contemnor or his or her counsel, if any, the court shall schedule an evidentiary hearing.
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 2022-58, eff. 1-1-23; adopted by Order 2020-1, eff. 2-1-20

Plain-English Summary

The pleading list comes first: every original pleading in a dissolution action is signed by its preparer and filed with the clerk, and the case file should include a verified petition, proof of service, a verified response or entry of appearance, a verified separation agreement unless the court waives filing, the Final Verified Disclosure Statement, a verified waiver of notice of final hearing, deposition or interrogatory proof where there is no hearing, a divorce education certificate if the court requires one, and a child support worksheet.

Two deadlines drive the early case. The preliminary verified disclosure statement is exchanged between the parties within 45 days of service of the petition, with objections exchanged 21 days after that — and it is not filed in the record unless the court orders it or a local rule requires it. Separately, a party asked in writing outside formal discovery to sign a release has 14 days to sign and return it, unless they move for a protective order. Any release must direct that whatever is produced goes to both sides at once, at the requesting party's expense.

Where the same underlying claims are filed in two circuits, the first-filed action controls, subject to transfer on forum non conveniens or other grounds; a transfer motion comes before or with the response, and the two courts may confer about venue on notice to the parties.

Status quo orders come in two kinds. A financial one, entered after notice and an evidentiary hearing, preserves the marital estate and assigns responsibility for ongoing expenses, and may use the provisions in Appendix A. A parenting conduct order may be entered on the court's own motion or a party's if it serves the child's best interest, and may draw on Appendix B — whose provisions bind nobody unless the court orders them in the case. Ex parte motions must be verified or supported by an affidavit stating grounds for relief, and if granted are set for a hearing with all parties at the earliest available date. A contempt motion must give the date of entry and the specific provision allegedly violated, be under oath, and describe the offending conduct with particularity; the court then decides whether there is sufficient cause to believe its order was violated before any show cause order issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

When must preliminary financial disclosures be exchanged in Kentucky?

Within 45 days of service of the petition on the respondent, with objections exchanged 21 days after that. They are not filed in the record unless the court orders it or a local rule requires it.

How long do I have to sign a release?

Within 14 days of receiving a written request made outside formal discovery, unless you move for a protective order under CR 26.

What if the same case is filed in two Kentucky circuits?

The first action filed is the controlling action, subject to transfer by that circuit's court on forum non conveniens or other appropriate legal grounds. A transfer motion must be filed prior to or with the response.

What has to be in a motion for contempt?

The date of entry and the specific provision of the order allegedly violated; it must be under oath, verified or accompanied by affidavit, and describe with particularity the conduct claimed to violate the order.

Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Kentucky Family Court Rules of Procedure and Practice (Ky. FCRPP FCRPP 2). 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: preliminary disclosurestatus quo orderAOC-238contempt motiondissolution pleadingsreleasesforum non conveniens