{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-620.090","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 620.090","heading":"Temporary custody orders.","body":"(1) If, after completion of the temporary removal hearing, the court finds there are\nreasonable grounds to believe the child is dependent, neglected or abused, the court\nshall:\n(a) Issue an order for temporary removal and shall grant temporary custody to the\ncabinet or other appropriate person or agency. Preference shall be given to\navailable and qualified relatives of the child considering the wishes of the\nparent or other person exercising custodial control or supervision, if known.\nThe order shall state the specific reasons for removal and show that alternative\nless restrictive placements and services have been considered. The court may\nrecommend a placement for the child;\n(b) Inquire as to an existing child support order; and\n(c) If there is no existing order, or if the order is to be amended, the court shall:\n1. Make specific findings, either written or on the record, as to:\na. The child support obligation in the best interest of the child;\nb. The action to be taken by the payee, payor, or any other party by\nmaking an application for services to the child support office who\nshall take all appropriate action; or\nc. Setting a hearing as soon as practicable; and\n2. Require proper service before establishing a new child support order.\n(2) In placing a child under  an order of temporary custody, the cabinet or its designee\nshall use the least restrictive appropriate placement available. Preference shall be\ngiven to available and qualified relatives of the child considering the wishes of the\nparent or other person ex ercising custodial control or supervision, if known. The\nchild may also be placed in a facility or program operated or approved by the\ncabinet, including a foster home, or any other appropriate available placement.\nHowever, under no circumstance shall the child be placed in a home, facility, or\nother shelter with a child who has been committed to the Department of Juvenile\nJustice for commission of a sex crime as that term is defined in KRS 17.500, unless\nthe child committed for the commission of a sex crime is kept segregated from other\nchildren in the home, facility, or other shelter that have not been committed for the\ncommission of a sex crime.\n(3) If the court finds there are not reasonable grounds to believe the child is dependent,\nneglected or abused,  or if no action is taken within seventy -two (72) hours, the\nemergency custody order shall be dissolved automatically and the cabinet or its\ndesignee shall return the child to the parent or other person exercising custodial\ncontrol or supervision. A reques t for a continuance of the hearing by the parent or\nother person exercising custodial control or supervision shall constitute action\nprecluding automatic dissolution of the emergency custody order.\n(4) When the court issues a temporary order for the custod y of a child, the court may\norder that, within two (2) weeks, arrangements be made for the child to receive a\nthorough medical, visual, and dental examination by a professional authorized by\nthe Kentucky Revised Statutes to conduct such examinations. The c osts of the\nexamination shall be paid by the cabinet.\n(5) The child shall remain in temporary custody with the cabinet for a period of time\nnot to exceed forty-five (45) days from the date of the removal from his home. The\ncourt shall conduct the adjudicatory hearing and shall make a final disposition\nwithin forty-five (45) days of the removal of the child. The court may extend such\ntime after making written findings establishing the need for the extension and after\nfinding that the extension is in the child's best interest.\n(6) If custody is granted to a grandpar ent of the child pursuant to this section, the court\nshall consider granting reasonable visitation rights to any other grandparent of the\nchild if the court determines the grandparent has a significant and viable\nrelationship with the child as established in KRS 405.021(1)(c).","path":["KRS Chapter 620"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=52812","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T21:00:08Z","sha256":"055131a796fbdc62a57ba1a7b4860c7a0b57368c7889638b04944b2d40f2d587","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-620.080","next":"us-ky/krs-620.095"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}