Kentucky Dissolution of Marriage Timeline — How Long Does It Take? (2026)

Kentucky's timeline is driven primarily by the 60-day mandatory waiting period. For agreed, uncontested dissolutions, the process typically takes 3–5 months total.

Overview: Total Timeline

Stage-by-Stage: Uncontested Dissolution

Stage 1 — Pre-Filing Preparation

Duration: 1–3 weeks

Gather financial documents, complete AOC forms, draft Separation Agreement. Download AOC forms from courts.ky.gov/forms. Complete the Domestic Relations Financial Disclosure (AOC-239.1).

Stage 2 — File the Petition

Duration: 1 day

File at the Circuit Court Clerk's office. Pay $113–$148. Clerk issues Summons. 60-day clock begins on this date.

Stage 3 — Serve the Respondent

Duration: 1 day – 2 weeks

• Accepted service/waiver: Respondent signs immediately → file same or next day
• Certified mail: 2–7 business days
• Sheriff/process server: 1–2 weeks

Stage 4 — Response Period

Duration: 20–30 days

Respondent has 20 days to respond if personally served (30 days if served by mail). In agreed cases, Respondent files Acceptance of Service and waives formal response.

Stage 5 — 60-Day Waiting Period

Duration: 60 days from filing date

This waiting period cannot be shortened or waived. Use this time to finalize and sign the Separation Agreement. Both parties complete their Domestic Relations Financial Disclosures.

Stage 6 — Submit Final Documents

Duration: 1–3 weeks after Day 60

File executed Separation Agreement, proposed Decree, and Financial Disclosures. Most Circuit Courts in Kentucky enter the Decree without requiring a hearing for fully agreed cases. The judge reviews the paperwork and signs the Decree.

Stage 7 — Decree Entered

Duration: 1–4 weeks after final documents are filed

Circuit Court judge signs the Decree of Dissolution of Marriage. Marriage is dissolved.

The 60-Day Rule — What You Need to Know

The court cannot enter the final Decree until at least 60 days have passed since the Petition was filed. This is a statutory requirement and cannot be shortened.

Practical implication: Even if both parties sign the Separation Agreement on Day 1 and everything is agreed, the Decree still cannot be entered until Day 61 at the earliest.

Best practice: Use the 60-day window to finalize all financial documentation, execute the Separation Agreement, and have everything ready to submit on or shortly after Day 60.

Contested Timeline

If the parties cannot agree, additional steps extend the timeline significantly:

Total contested timeline: 12–36 months

Last reviewed: March 2026 | 60-day mandatory wait from filing | Most uncontested cases: 3–5 months total | No hearing required for agreed cases in most counties | courts.ky.gov/forms

Last reviewed: March 2026 · Verify current fees and forms with your local court before filing.