Kentucky

Categorical Right To Counsel
Discretionary Appointment Of Counsel
Right Or Appointment Is Qualified
No Such Proceeding
No Authorization, But Relevant Materials
Other
Qualified

Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Accused Parents

Litigation

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
August 5, 2022
KY appeals court: Denial of counsel for noncustodial parent was reversible error
The Kentucky Court of Appeals held that the failure to appoint counsel in a dependency proceeding required reversal of the termination order.
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Appointment of Counsel:  Yes
Qualified: Yes
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.

Legislation

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
Right to counsel
Indigent custodial parents are entitled to counsel in dependency proceedings following the initial temporary removal hearing.
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Appointment of Counsel:  Yes
Qualified: Yes
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
Qualified

Domestic Violence - Accused Person

Court Rule or Initiative

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
August 26, 2021
Kentucky high court finds that unrepresented minors are entitled to an attorney ad litem
Pro se minor parties in interpersonal protective order (IPO) and domestic violence order (DVO) cases have a right to an attorrney ad litem.
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Appointment of Counsel:  Yes
Qualified: Yes
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
Qualified

Domestic Violence - Alleged Victim

Court Rule or Initiative

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
August 26, 2021
Right to an attorney ad litem
Pro se minor parties in interpersonal protective order (IPO) and domestic violence order (DVO) cases have a right to an attorrney ad litem.
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Appointment of Counsel:  Yes
Qualified: Yes
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
Doesn't Affect

Guardianship/Conservatorship of Adults - Protected Person

Legislation

January 3, 2024
Bill would have provided right to counsel for guardianship termination and modification
The state Senate bill would have removed any ambiguity about whether a protected person is entitled to counsel in these matters.
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Appointment of Counsel:  Doesn't Affect
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
Qualified

Housing - Evictions

Legislation

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
June 4, 2025
All about Louisville's eviction right to counsel
Louisville is first the Southern city to enact an eviction right to counsel.
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Appointment of Counsel:  Yes
Qualified: Yes
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.

The NCCRC provided some input to advocates working on the ordinance.

Qualified

Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Accused Parents

Categorical

Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Children

Qualified

Adult Protective Proceedings - Protected Person

Qualified

All Basic Human Needs

Categorical

Bypass of Parental Input into Abortion - Minor (Pre-Dobbs)

Qualified

Civil Commitment

Qualified

Civil Contempt in Family Court

Other

Custody Disputes - Parents

Other

Divorce

Qualified

Domestic Violence - Accused Person

Qualified

Domestic Violence - Alleged Victim

Qualified

Guardianship/Conservatorship of Adults - Protected Person

Qualified

Guardianship/Conservatorship of Children - Child (incomplete)

Discretionary

Housing - Discrimination

Qualified

Housing - Evictions

Qualified

Incarceration for Fees/Fines (incomplete)

Categorical

Involuntary Medical Treatment (incomplete)

Qualified

Issues Related to Incarcerated People

No Such Proceeding

Sexually Dangerous Persons - Commitment

Qualified

Termination of Parental Rights (Private) - Birth Parents

Qualified

Termination of Parental Rights (Private) - Children

Qualified

Termination of Parental Rights (State) - Birth Parents

Qualified

Termination of Parental Rights (State) - Children

Categorical

Truancy - Petition Against Child