The attached Appendix A, Twenty-Four Hour Accessibility to Emergency Protective Orders and Local Joint Jurisdiction Domestic Violence Protocol as approved by all Judges in the 39^th Judicial Circuit and District and the Chief Justice, is incorporated herein and made a part of these Family Court Rules by reference. During regular office hours Monday--Friday, a verified petition for a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) and ex parte Emergency Protective Order (EPO) may be obtained and filed at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office located at the courthouse/justice center in each county in the 39^th Judicial Circuit. After regular office hours and on weekends and holidays a petition for a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) and ex parte Emergency Protective Order (EPO) may be obtained from the County Sheriff or any sworn Sheriff's Deputy, the City Chief of Police or any sworn City Police Officer, any Kentucky State Police Trooper or the local 911/dispatch office (open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day) located in each county in the 39^th Judicial Circuit. The petition may be verified and filed by any of the aforementioned Law Enforcement Officers and a Law Enforcement Officer may be contacted by dialing 911 or the County/City Dispatch Office.

Hearings of verified petitions for a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) shall be scheduled within fourteen (14) days of the issuance of an Emergency Protective Order (EPO) on the Family Court Domestic Violence Docket in the respective county of the proceeding. Cases will be heard in a timely manner. If parties require more than 15 minutes to present their evidence, the Court may assign the parties to a time at the end of the docket or the parties may be given another date.