{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-405.020","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 405.020","heading":"Custody, nurture, and education of minor child -- Physically and mentally","body":"disabled children -- De facto custodian.\n(1) The father and mother shall have the joint custody, nurture, and education of their\nchildren who are under the age of eighteen (18).  If either of the parents dies, the\nsurvivor, if suited to the trust, shall have the custody, nurture, and education of the\nchildren who are under the age of eighteen (18). The father shall be primarily liable\nfor the nurture and education of his children who are under the age of eighteen (18)\nand for any unmarried child over the age of eighteen (18) when the child is a full -\ntime high school student, but not beyond completion of the school year during\nwhich the child reaches the age of nineteen (19) years.\n(2) The father and mother shall have the joint custody, care, and support of their\nchildren who have reached the age of eighteen (18) and who are wholly dependent\nbecause of permanent physical or mental disability. If either of the parents dies, the\nsurvivor, if suited to the trust, shall have the custody, care, and support of such\nchildren.\n(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, a person\nclaiming to be a de facto custodian, as defined in KRS 403.270, may petition a court\nfor legal custody of a child. The court shall grant legal custody to the person if the\ncourt determines that the person meets the definition of de facto custodian and that\nthe best interests of the child will be served by awarding custody to the de fa cto\ncustodian.\n(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, if either\nparent dies and at the time of death a child is in the custody of a de facto custodian,\nas defined in KRS 403.270, the court shall award custody to the de facto custodian\nif the court determines that the best interests of the child will be served by that\naward of custody.","path":["KRS Chapter 405"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=17542","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:59:31Z","sha256":"d7f3080cd9295ab4bec3aa978f7e50b195ed661480fe4092b3af3259e4d4843e","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-405.010","next":"us-ky/krs-405.021"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}