(1) Kentucky's Family Court represents an institutional change intended to improve the delivery of court services to families and children. The Family Court Rules of Procedure and Practice supplement the statutes, rules and procedures governing Family Law cases with rules and procedures which further assist the court, counsel, and parties in achieving the Court's objective while preserving the rule of law. See generally Kuprion v. FitzGerald, 888 S.W.2d 679 (Ky. 1994).

(2) These rules constitute a separate section of the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure and shall be known as the Kentucky Family Court Rules of Procedure and Practice. They may be cited as such, or by the abbreviation “FCRPP.” KRS 403.130(1).

(3) These Rules shall apply to the procedure and practice in all family law actions including dissolution of marriage; custody and child support; parenting time, time-sharing, and visitation; property division; maintenance; domestic violence; paternity; dependency; neglect or abuse; termination of parental rights; and adoption; or any and all other causes of action exclusively within the jurisdiction of Family Court. Procedural rules for special statutory proceedings shall prevail over any inconsistent FCRPP. CR 1.

(4) Self represented litigants shall be held to knowledge of these rules.

(5) The Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rules of Appellate Procedure, and Rules of Evidence shall apply to family law cases to the extent that they are not inconsistent with these rules.

(6) Child parenting time, time-sharing, and visitation are synonymous for the purpose of these rules unless, under the facts of the case, the law requires otherwise.

(7) No local rules, practices, procedures, orders, or other policies of any district or circuit may conflict with or controvert these rules; further, in the event that any such local rules, practices, procedures, orders, or other policies are or otherwise conflict with these rules, these rules shall prevail.