Burlington sits in Boone County, and every divorce filed by a Burlington resident moves through the Family Court division of the Boone County Circuit Court. The courthouse is the Boone County Justice Center at 6025 Rogers Lane, just off KY-18 near the county government campus. This page explains where you file, what it costs, how long it takes, and when hiring a Burlington divorce lawyer makes sense.
Kentucky calls divorce a "dissolution of marriage," and it is a no-fault state. Under KRS 403.170, the only ground is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." You do not prove cheating, abandonment, or cruelty. That keeps most Boone County cases focused on the practical questions: dividing property, setting parenting time, and calculating support.
Key Facts: Filing for Divorce in Burlington (Boone County)
| Detail | Burlington / Boone County |
|---|---|
| County | Boone County |
| Filing court | Boone County Circuit Court (Family Court division) |
| Court address | Boone County Justice Center, 6025 Rogers Lane, Room 141, Burlington, KY 41005 |
| Filing fee | About $148 in 2026 (range $113–$250 statewide); fee waiver via Form AOC-026 |
| Residency requirement | 180 days in Kentucky before filing (KRS 403.140) |
| Waiting period | 60-day separation after service (KRS 403.170) |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (KRS 403.190) |
How do I file for divorce in Burlington, Kentucky?
To file for divorce in Burlington you submit a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Form AOC-252A) to the Boone County Circuit Court Clerk and pay roughly $148 as of 2026. One spouse must have lived in Kentucky 180 days first. After the petition is served, a mandatory 60-day separation period runs before a judge can sign the final decree.
Attorneys must file electronically through Kentucky's eFiling system, which is required for most Boone County cases. Self-represented spouses may bring paper documents in person to Room 141 at the Justice Center. Along with the petition, you typically file a Case Data Information Sheet, a verified disclosure of assets and debts, and, if children are involved, a parenting and child-support worksheet. The Certificate of Divorce (Form VS-300), required by KRS 213.116, is completed online and filed with the clerk before the decree issues.
Where do I file for divorce in Burlington? (which courthouse)
Burlington residents file at the Boone County Justice Center, 6025 Rogers Lane, Room 141, Burlington, KY 41005, where the Circuit Court Clerk handles all dissolution cases. Call 859-448-2900 to confirm details. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Florence office does not process divorce filings.
Do not confuse the Circuit Court Clerk with the Boone County Clerk. The County Clerk, at 2950 Washington Square in Burlington, issues marriage licenses and handles vehicle and deed records, but it does not touch divorce cases. Divorce, custody, and support are court matters handled by the Circuit Court Clerk inside the Justice Center. If your situation involves a protective order, the County Attorney's CARE Center operates in Rooms 228 and 229 of the same building and assists with Emergency Protective Orders and Domestic Violence Orders.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Burlington?
A Burlington divorce lawyer typically charges $200 to $400 per hour, with most Boone County attorneys requesting a retainer of $2,500 to $5,000. An uncontested divorce with a flat fee often runs $1,500 to $3,500. Contested cases involving custody disputes or significant property frequently reach $7,500 to $15,000 or more once depositions and hearings stack up.
The filing fee itself is separate, about $148 in 2026, plus $40 to $150 for service of process if the sheriff or a process server delivers the papers. Several factors push attorney costs higher: contested custody under KRS 403.270, business valuations, retirement-account division requiring a QDRO, and high-conflict negotiation. Spouses who agree on the major terms before hiring counsel almost always spend less. Use the divorce cost estimator to model your own range before scheduling consultations.
How long does a divorce take in Burlington?
An uncontested divorce in Burlington usually finalizes in 60 to 90 days, governed by Kentucky's mandatory 60-day separation period under KRS 403.170(2). The 60 days begin after the responding spouse is served. Contested divorces involving disputed custody, property, or support commonly take 12 to 18 months in Boone County Family Court.
The timeline depends mostly on conflict, not the courthouse. Once 60 days have passed and both spouses have signed a settlement agreement, a judge can finalize an agreed case quickly. When parents disagree on parenting time, the case moves through mediation, possibly a custodial evaluation, and one or more hearings, each adding weeks. Boone County's Family Court docket and the complexity of your finances also affect scheduling. Filing complete, accurate paperwork at the outset is the single best way to avoid delays.
What are the residency requirements to file in Boone County?
To file for divorce in Boone County, at least one spouse must have lived in Kentucky for 180 days immediately before filing, under KRS 403.140. Kentucky imposes no separate county residency rule, so living anywhere in the state for six months qualifies you to file at the Burlington courthouse.
The 180-day period must be complete before you submit the petition. You cannot file early and let residency accrue afterward. If neither spouse meets the threshold, the Circuit Court lacks jurisdiction and will dismiss the case. Active-duty military stationed in Kentucky satisfy the requirement even when their official home of record is another state. The court verifies residency under oath at the deposition stage using Form AOC-252.5, so confirm your move-in date before scheduling your filing.
How is property divided in a Burlington divorce?
Kentucky is an equitable-distribution state under KRS 403.190, meaning a Boone County judge divides marital property fairly but not always equally. Property acquired during the marriage is presumed marital regardless of whose name is on the title. Premarital property, inheritances, and gifts to one spouse stay nonmarital if they can be traced.
The court weighs each spouse's contribution, including homemaking, the length of the marriage, and each person's economic circumstances, and it divides property "without regard to marital misconduct." Tracing matters: if an inheritance was deposited into a joint account and spent on the marital home, that nonmarital claim can be lost through commingling. Retirement accounts and pensions earned during the marriage are marital and often require a QDRO to divide without tax penalties. Spouses with retirement assets or a closely held business should expect more detailed valuation work.
How is child custody decided in Boone County?
Boone County Family Court decides custody under KRS 403.270 using the child's best interests, with a rebuttable presumption that joint custody and equally shared parenting time serve the child. Either parent can present evidence by a preponderance to overcome that presumption, for example showing a parenting arrangement that better fits the child's school and community.
The statute lists factors including each parent's wishes, the child's wishes when old enough, the child's relationships and adjustment to home and school, and the mental and physical health of everyone involved. Under KRS 403.315, the joint-custody presumption does not apply to a parent against whom a domestic violence order has been entered. Burlington parents calculating support alongside custody can start with the child support calculator, which applies Kentucky's income-shares guidelines.