KRS 403.090: Friend of the court -- Appointment -- Tenure -- Duties -- Wage

withholding collections -- Compensation.

(1) The fiscal court of any county may, by resolution, authorize the appointment of a

"friend of the court." If the Circuit Co urt of the county has but one (1) judge, the

appointment shall be made by the judge. If the court has two (2) or more judges, the

appointment shall be made by joint action of the judges, at the general term. The

person appointed to the office of friend of the court shall serve at the pleasure of,

and subject to removal by, the appointing authority. The person appointed shall be a

licensed practicing attorney. The appointed person shall take the constitutional oath

of office and shall give bond in such sum a s may be fixed by the appointing judge

or judges.

(2) Except for those cases administered pursuant to 42 U.S.C. sec. 651 et seq., it shall

be the duty of the friend of the court to supervise and enforce the payment of sums

ordered or adjudged by the Circui t Court in divorce actions to be paid for the care

and maintenance of minor children. All persons who have been ordered or adjudged

by the court, in connection with divorce actions, to make payments for the care and

maintenance of children, shall, if so or dered by the court, make such payments to

the friend of the court. The friend of the court shall see that the payments, except

for those cases administered pursuant to 42 U.S.C. sec. 651 et seq., are properly

applied in accordance with the order or judgmen t. However, if the court so directs,

the payments may be made through the juvenile session of District Court of the

county; in such case the friend of the court shall render such assistance as may be

required in keeping records concerning such payments and in the enforcement of

delinquent payments, and the Circuit Court may direct that a designated amount or

portion of the funds appropriated by the fiscal court for expenses of the friend of the

court be paid to the juvenile session of District Court as reim bursement for the

expenses incurred by the juvenile session of District Court in connection with the

handling of such payments. The friend of the court shall promptly investigate all

cases where payments have become delinquent, and when necessary shall cau se the

delinquent person to be brought before the court for the purpose of compelling

payment. The friend of the court shall ascertain the facts concerning the care,

custody, and maintenance of children for whom payments are being made, and shall

report to the court all cases in which the children are not receiving proper care or

maintenance, or in which the person having custody is failing to furnish proper

custody. He shall make such other reports to the court as the court may require.

(3) In the event th at a waiver is granted under 42 U.S.C. sec. 651 et seq., allowing

payment of wage withholding collections to be directed to the friend of the court, an

obligor shall be given the option of payment either to the friend of the court or the

centralized collection agency.

(4) In any action for divorce where the parties have minor children, the friend of the

court, if requested by the trial judge, shall make such investigation as will enable

the friend of the court to ascertain all facts and circumstances that w ill affect the

rights and interests of the children and will enable the court to enter just and proper

orders and judgment concerning the care, custody, and maintenance of the children.

The friend of the court shall make a report to the trial judge, at a t ime fixed by the

judge, setting forth recommendations as to the care, custody, and maintenance of

the children. The friend of the court may request the court to postpone the final

submission of any case to give the friend of the court a reasonable time in which to

complete the investigation.

(5) The friend of the court shall have authority to secure the issuance by the court of

any order, rule, or citation necessary for the proper enforcement of orders and

judgments in divorce actions concerning the custody , care, and maintenance of

children. In performing duties under subsection (4) of this section the friend of the

court shall attend the taking of depositions within the county, and shall have

authority to cross -examine the witnesses. In the case of deposit ions taken on

interrogatories, the friend of the court may file cross -interrogatories. The friend of

the court shall be duly notified of the time and place of the taking of depositions in

all divorce actions where the parties have minor children, and shall attend the taking

of all such depositions when the friend of the court deems it necessary for the

protection of the minor children, or when the friend of the court may be directed by

the court to attend.

(6) The friend of the court shall not directly or i ndirectly represent any party to a

divorce action except as herein authorized to represent the minor children of parties

to a divorce action, but if an allowance is made for the support of a spouse and an

infant child or children, may proceed to enforce the payment of the allowance made

to the spouse also.

(7) Where a friend of the court is acting as a designee of the Office of the Attorney

General pursuant to KRS 15.802 and an applicant for Title IV -D services pursuant

to KRS 15.810 has requested a modific ation of an existing child support order

pursuant to a divorce or other judicial order, the friend of the court shall seek the

modification, providing all jurisdictional requirements are met. The friend of the

court's representation shall extend only for t he limited purpose of seeking a

modification of an existing child support order consistent with the provisions of

KRS 403.212 or 403.2122.

(8) The fiscal court of any county which has authorized the appointment of a friend of

the court under this section s hall, by resolution, fix a reasonable compensation for

the friend of the court and make a reasonable allowance for necessary expenses,

equipment, and supplies, payable out of the general fund of the county, upon

approval of the appointing judge or judges.