KRS 383.290: Removal of person unlawfully occupying real property by law enforcement

officer at request of property owner -- Requirements -- Petition -- Service --

Immunity -- Civil cause of action.

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Immediate family membe r" means a spouse, parent, sibling, child, mother -

in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild;

and

(b) "Law enforcement officer" means a:

1. Person who is employed as a sworn law enforcement officer by a city,

county, urb an-county government, or charter county government law

enforcement agency;

2. Sheriff or full-time deputy sheriff; or

3. Constable granted police powers.

(2) A property owner or his or her authorized agent may request a law enforcement

officer to immediat ely remove a person or persons unlawfully occupying real

property pursuant to this section if:

(a) The unauthorized person is not and never has been a tenant of the premises,

and never had a written or oral agreement authorized by the property owner to

occupy the premises;

(b) The real property was not open to members of the public at the time the

unauthorized person or persons entered;

(c) The property owner has directed the unauthorized person to leave the

property;

(d) The unauthorized person or persons are not immediate family members of the

property owner; and

(e) There is no pending litigation related to the real property between the property

owner and any known unauthorized person.

(3) The request for immediate removal of an unlawful occupant of real property under

subsection (2) of this section shall be made by presenting a completed Petition to

Remove Persons Unlawfully Occupying Real Property to the law enforcement

officer. The submitted petition shall be in substantially the following form:

"PETITION TO REMOVE PERSONS UNLAWFULLY OCCUPYING REAL

PROPERTY

I, the owner or authorized agent of the owner of the real property located at ... .,

declare that (initial each box):

1. .... I am the owner of the real property or the authorized agent of the owner of

the real property.

2. .... I obtained title to the property on or about.....

3. .... An unauthorized person or persons have unlawfull y entered and are

remaining or residing unlawfully on the real property.

4. .... The real property was not open to members of the public at the time the

unauthorized person or persons entered.

5. .... I have directed the unauthorized person or persons to leave the real

property, but they have not done so.

6. .... The unauthorized person or persons sought to be removed are not an owner

or a co -owner of the property and have not been listed on the title to the property

unless the person or persons have engaged in title fraud.

7. .... The unauthorized person or persons are not immediate family members of

the property owner.

8. .... There is no litigation related to the real property pending between the

property owner and any person sought to be removed.

9. .... I understand that a person or persons removed from the property pursuant

to this procedure may bring a cause of action against me for any false statements

made in this petition, or for wrongfully using this procedure, and that as a result of

such action I may be held liable for actual damages, penalties, costs, and reasonable

attorney's fees.

10. .... I am requesting the law enforcement officer to immediately remove the

unauthorized person or persons from the property.

11. .... A copy of my valid g overnment-issued identification is attached, or I am

an agent of the property owner, and documents evidencing my authority to act on

the property owner's behalf are attached.

I HAVE READ EVERY STATEMENT MADE IN THIS PETITION AND EACH

STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT."

.................... (signature of property owner or agent of owner)

(4) (a) Upon receipt of a petition in accordance with subsection (3) of this section,

the law enforcement officer shall verify the identity of the petitioner. The

petitioner's identity may be verified by presentation of a government -issued

photo identification.

(b) If the identity of the petitioner is verified, the law enforcement officer shall,

without unnecessary delay, serve a notice to immediately vacate the property

on all the unlawful occupants and shall put the owner in possession of the real

property.

(c) The service required in paragraph (b) of this subsection may be accomplished

by hand delivery of the notice to an occupant or by posting the notice on the

real property.

(d) The law enforcement officer serving the notice shall attempt to verify the

identity of all persons occupying the real property and note the identities on

the return of service. If appropriate, the law enforcement officer may arrest

any person found o n the real property for trespass, outstanding warrants, or

any other legal cause.

(e) A law enforcement officer acting in good faith under this subsection shall be

immune from criminal and civil liability.

(5) (a) The sheriff or constable may charge a fee of twenty dollars ($20) for service

of the notice to immediately vacate the property.

(b) After the law enforcement officer serves the notice to immediately vacate the

property, the property owner or authorized age nt may request that the law

enforcement officer remain at the premises to keep the peace while the

property owner or agent changes the locks and removes the personal property

of the unlawful occupants from the premises to or near the property line.

(c) The property owner or his or her authorized agent acting in good faith shall be

immune from criminal and civil liability due to the loss of, destruction of, or

damage to the personal property of the unlawful occupants unless the removal

is found to be wrongful under subsection (6) of this section.

(6) (a) A person may bring a civil cause of action against a petitioner alleging

wrongful removal under this section. A person harmed by a wrongful removal

under this section may be restored to possession of the real property. A

prevailing plaintiff shall be entitled to an award of court costs and reasonable

attorney's fees in addition to other appropriate relief.

(b) An action for wrongful removal under this section shall be filed in the District

Court of the county in which the property is located.

(c) The action for wrongful removal shall be commenced within sixty (60) days

after the wrongful removal.

(7) This section shall not bar a property owner from bringing a civil cause of action

against any unauthorized perso n for property damage, deprivation of use of

property, and any other relief to which the property owner may be entitled.

(8) The Department of Kentucky State Police shall create a form containing the text of

the petition as described in subsection (3) of t his section and publicly post the form

it on its website; provided, however, that an owner's petition is not required to

appear on the Department of Kentucky State Police form to be valid.

(9) The procedures established in this section are not applicable t o, and shall not be

enforced against, a person who is a current or former tenant of the premises or who

once had an agreement with the property owner that permitted the person to occupy

the premises.