Divorce

Divorce Attorney in Kenton County

Family-Only Representation from Crestview Hills to Covington

When a marriage ends, the decisions made during that process shape what comes next: where children spend their time, how property is divided, and what financial footing each spouse stands on. At Schaffner Family Law & Mediation, divorce isn’t one service among many. It’s central to everything we do. Our boutique firm is based in Crestview Hills, within Kenton County, and we handle only family law so cases receive careful attention.

Founding attorney Tasha K. Schaffner has been practicing family law in Kentucky since 2004. Known in the community as a fearless, well-prepared advocate, she leads a team that brings strength to contested hearings and careful strategy to every negotiated resolution. As divorce lawyers serving Kenton County, we deliberately limit our caseload because every motion, parenting plan, and financial agreement deserves careful attention.

If you’re facing divorce in Kenton County, call us at (859) 577-7552 or reach out through our online contact form. We can give you straight answers about your situation and what to expect.

Why Kenton County Clients Choose Schaffner Family Law & Mediation

Tasha Schaffner holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating for professional excellence and ethical standards, and is consistently recognized in Super Lawyers for Family Law, a distinction awarded to no more than 5% of attorneys in Kentucky. Our firm has argued cases before the Kentucky Court of Appeals and the Kentucky Supreme Court, including cases that established precedents in family law.

What sets us apart locally is our formal training in settlement alternatives. Our attorneys are state-certified to conduct private domestic relations mediations, and members of our firm belong to the Academy of Northern Kentucky Collaborative Professionals (ANKCP). Clients get both courtroom-ready advocacy and genuine alternatives to litigation from one firm, without having to choose between a lawyer who’s tough and one who’s thoughtful.

We’re active in the Northern Kentucky Bar Association and support local continuing legal education events, keeping our team current on local court practices and connected to the judges and professionals involved in family cases here. And because we believe the relationship doesn’t end when the case does, our past divorce clients receive chocolates every Valentine’s Day as a small reminder that they’re not forgotten.

Serving Kenton County: Covington, Fort Mitchell, & Beyond

Our Crestview Hills office is close to the communities we serve. We represent clients from Covington, Erlanger, Independence, Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright, Park Hills, Villa Hills, Edgewood, Taylor Mill, and throughout the county. Kenton County Family Court, part of the 16th Judicial Circuit, handles divorce and related family matters, and our team is familiar with the local filing and case-management process.

Because many local residents work or hold assets across the river, we’re licensed in both Kentucky and Ohio. Cross-border retirement accounts, employment income, or real property can complicate a dissolution proceeding, and we’re prepared to address those questions when they arise.

High-Level Experience
With decades of combined experience and a focus on complex and high-asset cases, we bring the insight, strategy, and professionalism clients expect from a premier family law firm.
Smart Resolutions
We offer strong alternatives to litigation through mediation, uncontested, and collaborative divorce—helping clients resolve matters efficiently without sacrificing protection.
Fearless Advocacy
We are known throughout Northern Kentucky for standing our ground and protecting our clients with confidence, preparation, and grit—especially when the stakes are high.
Client-Centered Care
We treat our clients like people, not case numbers. From thoughtful communication to small gestures of kindness, we make sure every client feels supported and respected.

A Team Committed to Family Law Matters

Experienced Professionals Focused on Your Needs

How Divorce Works in Kentucky

Kentucky uses a no-fault standard for divorce, formally called dissolution of marriage. Either spouse can seek dissolution by showing the marriage has suffered an irretrievable breakdown, with no proof of wrongdoing required. Before filing, at least one spouse must have been a Kentucky resident for a minimum of 180 days, or have been stationed in Kentucky as a member of the armed services for that period.

Kentucky also requires couples to live apart for at least 60 days before a divorce is finalized. Spouses can be considered living apart while remaining in the same home if they have not had sexual cohabitation. The petition states these statutory facts and asks the court to resolve issues such as custody, support, property division, and maintenance. State law sets the substantive requirements, while the county court administers filing, scheduling, and case management.

What Your Kenton County Divorce Will Cover

Property Division

Marital property in Kentucky is divided equitably, meaning fairly but not necessarily equally. A court weighs several statutory factors when spouses can’t agree. We help clients understand what is likely to be treated as marital versus separate property and build a clear financial picture for the court when needed.

Child Custody & Parenting Time

Kentucky courts apply a best interest of the child standard to custody decisions. We help clients develop parenting plans that reflect their family’s actual circumstances, including schedules, transportation, communication, and day-to-day needs, whether through negotiated agreement or, when necessary, through courtroom advocacy.

Child Support

Kentucky uses statutory guidelines to calculate child support using legally relevant financial information and the parenting arrangement. We review the information carefully and present unusual financial circumstances when they matter to the calculation.

Spousal Maintenance

Maintenance isn’t automatic in Kentucky. The court considers financial need, the ability to pay, and other statutory factors. We give clients an honest assessment of whether maintenance is realistic in their situation before they build expectations around it.

For contested cases, we prepare every document and financial disclosure carefully so your position is presented clearly in court. We also handle high-asset divorce, business owner divorce, military divorce, and collaborative divorce for clients whose circumstances call for it.

Choosing a Path Through Your Divorce

Not every divorce looks the same, and the right approach depends on how much you and your spouse agree on, how complex your finances are, and how much court involvement you want. We represent clients in litigation and offer mediation, collaborative divorce, negotiated settlement, and uncontested divorce services, helping clients evaluate which path fits their circumstances.

Litigation

When issues can’t be resolved through negotiation, the Kenton County Family Court has authority to decide them. Preparation and clear presentation of evidence are critical at that stage. We prepare for hearings with financial disclosures, motions, and supporting documents in order.

Mediation

Our attorneys are state-certified to conduct private domestic relations mediations, which means we can serve as the neutral mediator in some cases and as your advocate in others. Mediation allows both parties to work through disputed issues with a neutral third party and requires workable participation and information sharing. We offer virtual mediation for clients with demanding schedules or who are located outside the immediate area.

Collaborative Divorce

Through our membership in the Academy of Northern Kentucky Collaborative Professionals (ANKCP), we offer collaborative divorce for clients who want a structured, cooperative process without court involvement. Both spouses and their attorneys commit to resolving the case outside of litigation, often with the support of financial and mental health professionals. It’s a strong fit for clients who want to preserve a working relationship after the divorce, particularly when children are involved.

Military Divorce Considerations

For military families, we have working knowledge of the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act (USFSPA), the 20/20/20 rule addressing eligibility for certain post-divorce military benefits such as TRICARE and commissary access, and the 10/10 rule concerning when a former spouse may receive direct retirement pay from DFAS. These federal benefit rules operate alongside Kentucky divorce procedure, so retirement benefits, jurisdiction, and service-related documentation require careful handling.

Ready to Talk Through Your Options?

We offer virtual consultations for clients who can’t easily come to the office. For couples who have already reached an agreement, our flat-fee-style approach handles drafting and filing without unnecessary litigation costs. For those still working through contested issues, we can represent you at each stage.

We won’t inflate your expectations or push conflict where it isn’t needed. What we can do is tell you the truth about your position and stand beside you through the process. Call Schaffner Family Law & Mediation at (859) 577-7552 to schedule a consultation.

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