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Nonparent Must Prove Unfitness or Waiver to Defeat Parent’s Superior Right to Custody
Appleman v. Gebell 2024-SC-0137-DGE Bracken Circuit Court Kentucky Supreme Court Opinion by Justice Nickell Date Rendered: December 19, 2024 Issue: Whether mother waived superior right to custody. In 2016, shortly after birth, Child was placed with Paternal Relatives. In 2019, the Court entered a permanency order granting full custody to Paternal Relatives. In 2021, Mother…
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Custody Order Affirmed as Role of FOC is Advisory
Bentley v. Etherton 2023-CA-0560-MR Kentucky Court of Appeals Bullitt Circuit Court Opinion by Judge Acree Date Rendered: October 18, 2024 On December 10, 2017, Mother fatally shot Father and later pled guilty to murder, leaving their Child at the center of legal disputes. Before her incarceration, Mother signed a medical power of attorney granting Great-Aunt…
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Court of Appeals Upholds Contested Stepparent Adoption
W.H.J. v. J.N.W., CHFS No. 2023-CA-1474-ME Warren Family Court Opinion by Judge Eckerle Date Rendered: September 27, 2024 Father contested adoption of child by Step-Father. When Father and Mother divorced, Family Court awarded Mother sole custody of Child and Ordered Father to undergo substance abuse and mental health assessments and to attend a parenting clinic.…
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Termination of Mother with Diagnosis of Factitious Disorder by Proxy’s Parental Rights Affirmed
T.P. v. Commonwealth No. 2024-CA-0402-ME Scott Family Court Opinion by Judge Cetrulo Date Rendered: August 30, 2024 Child was born in 2009, and no father was identified. Mother had been the subject of at least four investigations regarding Child, beginning when Child was just a few months old. In 2017, concerns arose that Mother was…
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Separation of Powers Doctrine Requires Hoskins Hearing
A.S. v. Commonwealth NO. 2024-CA-0245-ME Bullitt Family Court Opinion by Judge Easton Date Rendered: July 19, 2024 Issues: Whether the family court violated the separation of powers doctrine by refusing to dismiss charges against A.S. when requested by the prosecutor. Whether the family court erred in finding neglect against A.S. despite lack of supporting evidence.…
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