FCRPP 32.Involuntary termination
Last amended February 1, 2020 · Current through July 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026
Full Text of FCRPP 32
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: Adopted by Order 2020-1, eff. 2-1-20
Plain-English Summary
Involuntary termination is the most consequential proceeding in this ruleset, and the first provision is about not letting it drift. Immediately on filing, the petitioner obtains a pretrial date. If the parents have not been served by then, the date is not wasted — it becomes a case status review used to expedite the proceeding.
As with adoption, a continuance of a final hearing date requires good cause shown, and the annual permanency review hearings continue in the underlying dependency action until permanency is achieved.
The evidentiary provision is the one practitioners most need. A party who relies on facts of record in another court action to prove something in a termination case must move for admission of that record — including any video recording — into the termination record. And anything so admitted must be certified in the record of any appeal. The point is that a decision severing a parent's rights should rest only on material an appellate court can actually see.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens first in a Kentucky involuntary termination case?
Immediately upon filing the petition, the petitioner obtains a pretrial date. If the parents are not served before it, that date is used as a case status review to expedite the proceeding.
Can I rely on findings from the dependency case?
Only if you move for admission of that court record — including any video recording — into the record of the termination action. Anything admitted must be certified in the record of any appeal.
Do permanency reviews continue during a termination case?
Yes. The annual permanency review hearings continue to be held in any dependency, neglect and abuse action until permanency is achieved.