{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-620.140","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 620.140","heading":"Dispositional alternatives.","body":"(1) In determining the disposition of all cases brought on behalf of dependent,\nneglected, or abused children, the juvenile session of the District Court or the\nfamily division of the Circuit Court, in the best interests of the child, shall have but\nshall not be limited to the following dispositional alternatives:\n(a) Informal adjustment of the case by agreement, which may be entered into at\nany time. Informal adjustment may include an agreed plan by which:\n1. The parent or other person exercising custodial con trol or supervision\nagrees that grounds exist for a finding of dependency, neglect, or abuse,\nand agrees to the conditions of protective orders under paragraph (b) of\nthis subsection for a duration of up to one (1) year;\n2. The action will be dismissed by the court, without hearing, at the end of\nthe period agreed upon if no motion is brought alleging a violation of a\nprotective order; and\n3. If a motion is brought alleging a violation of a protective order, a\nhearing will be held at which the parent or oth er person exercising\ncustodial control or supervision may contest the alleged violation, but\nmay not contest the original grounds for a finding of dependency,\nneglect, or abuse. If a violation is found to have occurred, the court may\nconsider other dispositional alternatives pursuant to this section;\n(b) Protective orders, such as the following:\n1. Requiring the parent or any other person to abstain from any conduct\nabusing, neglecting, or making the child dependent;\n2. Placing the child in his or her own h ome under supervision of the\ncabinet or its designee with services as determined to be appropriate by\nthe cabinet; and\n3. Orders authorized by KRS 403.715 to 403.785 and by KRS Chapter\n456;\n(c) Removal of the child to the custody of an adult relative, fictive kin, other\nperson, or child -caring facility or child -placing agency, taking into\nconsideration the wishes of the parent or other person exercising custodial\ncontrol or supervision. Before an y child is committed to the cabinet or placed\nout of his or her home under the supervision of the cabinet, the court shall\ndetermine that reasonable efforts have been made by the court or the cabinet\nto prevent or eliminate the need for removal and that continuation in the home\nwould be contrary to the welfare of the child. If a child is to be placed with an\nadult relative or fictive kin, the child, if able, parent, or other person\nexercising custodial control or supervision shall provide a list to the cabinet of\npossible persons to be considered;\n(d) Commitment of the child to the custody of the cabinet for placement for an\nindeterminate period of time not to exceed his or her attainment of the age\neighteen (18), unless the youth elects to extend his or her commitment beyond\nthe age of eighteen (18) under paragraph (e) of this subsection. Beginning at\nleast six (6) months prior to an eligible youth attaining the age of eighteen\n(18), the cabinet shall provide the eligible youth with education,\nencouragement, assistance, and support regarding the development of a\ntransition plan, and inform the eligible youth of his or her right to extend\ncommitment beyond the age of eighteen (18); or\n(e) Upon the receipt of the request and with concurrence of the cabinet, ext end or\nreinstate the youth's commitment or custody up to the age of twenty -one (21)\nto receive transitional living support. The request shall be made by the youth\nprior to attaining twenty (20) years and six (6) months of age. A youth may\nextend or reinsta te his or her commitment up to three (3) times prior to\nattaining twenty (20) years and six (6) months of age, without seeking\napproval from the commissioner of the department. A youth may extend or\nreinstate his or her commitment more than three (3) times  prior to attaining\ntwenty (20) years and six (6) months of age if approved by the commissioner\nof the department or his or her designee. The court may grant an extension or\nreinstatement of a youth's commitment even if the concurrence of the cabinet\noccurs after the youth attains twenty (20) years and six (6) months of age.\n(2) An order of temporary custody to the cabinet shall not be considered as a\npermissible dispositional alternative.","path":["KRS Chapter 620"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57455","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T21:00:08Z","sha256":"a8bc643d533e4597828557089da03316b4f20c9e5bacbeffc8a17aff5ec5a0b9","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-620.130","next":"us-ky/krs-620.142"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}