Kentucky Court System

State Courts

Appellate Level

• Kentucky Supreme Court - Highest court in the state; final appellate authority

  • 7 justices
  • Hears civil and criminal cases on appeal

• Kentucky Court of Appeals - Intermediate appellate court

  • 14 judges in divisions
  • Reviews lower court decisions

Trial Level

• District Courts - Lower trial courts

  • General jurisdiction in civil matters
  • Criminal misdemeanors and felonies
  • Small claims

• Circuit Courts - Primary trial courts

  • General jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters
  • Family law (divorce, custody, support)
  • Felony criminal trials

Federal Courts

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit - Reviews federal cases from Kentucky
• U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Kentucky
• U.S. District Court for Western District of Kentucky

Court Procedures

Custody matters in Kentucky are typically handled in Circuit Courts at the trial level, with appeals to the Court of Appeals and potentially the Supreme Court.

Related

• Kentucky - Kentucky jurisdiction overview
• KRS 403.270 - Custody determination statute