Northern Kentucky Divorce Attorney

The Northern Kentucky Divorce Process, Step by Step

Navigating the courtrooms of Boone, Kenton, or Campbell County requires an understanding of local rules and realistic timelines. No Kentucky divorce can be finalized until at least 60 days have passed since filing. That is the minimum for a fully uncontested case. Contested divorces involving custody disputes, complex assets, or business interests commonly take nine to eighteen months or longer.

1. Filing the Petition: We begin by filing the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and serving the other spouse, who typically has 20 days to file a response.
2. Mandatory Disclosures: Both parties must exchange Preliminary Verified Disclosure Statements: a full accounting of all assets, debts, income, and expenses. Honesty here is critical, as hiding assets can lead to court sanctions. Our document checklist can help you gather everything you need.
3. Temporary Motion Hour: If you need immediate guidance on child support, who stays in the home, or who pays which bills while the case is pending, we file motions for Pendency Orders to establish those ground rules from the start.
4. Discovery Phase: We use this phase to build an accurate financial picture by subpoenaing bank records, hiring forensic accountants to value businesses, and conducting depositions to secure testimony under oath.
5. Mediation: Most Northern Kentucky judges require couples to attempt mediation before a trial date is set. Our attorneys are state-certified to conduct private domestic relations mediations, so we understand this process from both sides of the table.
6. Trial and Decree: If mediation doesn’t resolve the case, it proceeds to a final hearing. The judge hears the evidence and issues a Final Decree of Dissolution, legally ending the marriage and settling all outstanding disputes.

Why Northern Kentucky Families Choose Schaffner Family Law & Mediation

Tasha K. Schaffner is consistently recognized in Super Lawyers for Family Law. It is a distinction reached by no more than 5% of attorneys in the state. She also has an extensive track record in the Kentucky Court of Appeals and the Kentucky Supreme Court, including cases that have set precedents in family law. That appellate depth shapes how we build arguments at every stage, not only if an appeal becomes necessary.

Credentials & Resolution Options

Our attorneys are formally trained in Collaborative Law and are members of the Academy of Northern Kentucky Collaborative Professionals (ANKCP). Combined with our state certification to conduct private domestic relations mediations, clients have access to the full range of resolution paths: negotiated settlement, mediation, collaborative process, or litigation, without changing firms. For parties who have already reached an agreement, we offer a streamlined, flat-fee-style approach to avoid unnecessary litigation costs.

Team Depth & Client Communication

Our team includes experienced practitioners Jennifer Conner and Amy Halbrook, and our dedicated paralegal team supports consistent communication throughout your case. We track every deadline, follow up on every outstanding item, and keep you informed at each step so you’re never left wondering where things stand. Active involvement in the Northern Kentucky Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association, and local continuing legal education events keeps us current on local judicial practices and the judges handling family cases in this region.

A Long-Term Relationship Mindset

We take the long view on client relationships. Every year, our divorce clients receive chocolates on Valentine’s Day, even years after their case has closed. It’s a small gesture that reflects something we genuinely mean: life after divorce deserves support, and we don’t consider our responsibility finished the moment the decree is signed.

Reach out to Schaffner Family Law & Mediation at (859) 577-7552. Talk with a Northern Kentucky divorce attorney ready to help organize your case and stand firm throughout the process.