Campbellsville sits at the center of Taylor County, and every divorce filed by a local resident moves through the Taylor County Circuit Court inside the Judicial Center at 300 E. Main Street, a short walk from the downtown square. Kentucky calls divorce a "dissolution of marriage," and the state is exclusively no-fault under KRS 403.170, so you only have to state that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This page walks through where Campbellsville residents file, what it costs, how long it takes, and when hiring a divorce lawyer makes sense.
A common local mix-up: the Taylor County Clerk at 203 North Court Street handles vital records like marriage and real estate documents, but it does NOT accept divorce filings. Divorce cases go to the Circuit Court Clerk at the Judicial Center on East Main. Sending paperwork to the wrong office is the most frequent delay for self-represented filers in Campbellsville.
Campbellsville Divorce: Key Facts at a Glance
The table below summarizes the core filing facts for a Campbellsville (Taylor County) divorce, verified March 2026. Kentucky uses one statewide residency rule of 180 days and a 60-day waiting period, while the filing fee is set locally by the Circuit Court Clerk and typically lands near $148.
| Detail | Campbellsville / Taylor County |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Filing court | Taylor County Circuit Court Clerk |
| Court address | Taylor County Judicial Center, 300 E. Main St., Campbellsville, KY 42718 |
| Filing fee | ~$148 (range $113-$250 statewide); confirm with clerk |
| Residency requirement | 180 days in Kentucky (KRS 403.140) |
| Waiting period | 60 days minimum before final decree |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (KRS 403.190) |
How do I file for divorce in Campbellsville, Kentucky?
To file for divorce in Campbellsville, submit a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage to the Taylor County Circuit Court Clerk at 300 E. Main Street and pay the filing fee of roughly $148. At least one spouse must have lived in Kentucky 180 days before filing under KRS 403.140. Kentucky is no-fault, so you state only that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
The basic sequence for an uncontested Campbellsville filing looks like this:
- Confirm one spouse meets the 180-day Kentucky residency rule (KRS 403.140).
- Complete the AOC dissolution forms, including the petition and a case data sheet.
- File with the Taylor County Circuit Court Clerk and pay the ~$148 fee, or request a waiver via Form AOC-026.
- Serve your spouse, or have them sign an entry of appearance to skip formal service.
- Wait the mandatory 60 days, then submit the final decree and settlement for the judge's signature.
Contested cases add discovery, temporary motions, and possibly a hearing, which is where a Campbellsville divorce lawyer earns their fee.
Where do I file for divorce in Campbellsville? (which courthouse)
File your divorce at the Taylor County Circuit Court Clerk's office inside the Taylor County Judicial Center, 300 E. Main Street, Campbellsville, KY 42718, phone (270) 465-6686. Kentucky dissolution cases are heard in Circuit Court, not District Court or the County Clerk's office. The clerk records your petition, assigns a case number, and routes it to the Taylor Circuit family docket.
Venue is governed by KRS 452.470, which directs you to file in the county where you or your spouse resides. For nearly all Campbellsville residents, that is Taylor County. If your spouse has moved to a neighboring county such as Green, Adair, or Marion, you may still file in Taylor County if you live here, but confirm venue with the clerk before submitting paperwork.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Campbellsville?
A Campbellsville divorce lawyer typically charges $200-$300 per hour, with uncontested flat fees often running $1,000-$2,500 and contested cases ranging from $4,000 to $12,000 or more depending on custody and property disputes. On top of attorney fees, the court filing fee is about $148, and service of process runs $40-$150. Many local attorneys offer flat-fee uncontested packages.
If cost is the barrier, you have options. Form AOC-026 lets low-income filers ask the Taylor Circuit judge to waive the filing fee. Legal Aid of the Bluegrass serves the Campbellsville area and may handle qualifying cases at no charge. Self-represented filers using the Kentucky AOC forms can complete a simple uncontested divorce for roughly the filing fee alone, though property or custody issues usually justify hiring counsel.
How long does a divorce take in Campbellsville?
An uncontested Campbellsville divorce usually finalizes in 60 to 90 days, driven by Kentucky's mandatory 60-day waiting period before a judge can sign the decree. The clock starts when your spouse is served, files an entry of appearance, or submits a responsive pleading. Contested divorces involving custody or property fights commonly take 6 to 18 months as discovery and hearings unfold.
The 60-day minimum is firm: even spouses who agree on everything cannot finalize sooner. When minor children are involved, Kentucky law (KRS 403.044) bars testimony until 60 days have passed from service. Practical factors that lengthen a Taylor County timeline include incomplete financial disclosures, disputes over the marital home, and docket scheduling at the Judicial Center.
What are the residency requirements to file in Taylor County?
To file for divorce in Taylor County, at least one spouse must have been a resident of Kentucky for 180 days immediately before filing, under KRS 403.140. There is no separate county-level residency period beyond the statewide 180 days. You file in the county where you or your spouse lives, per KRS 452.470, which for Campbellsville residents means the Taylor County Circuit Court.
This residency must exist at the time you file; you cannot file first and accumulate the days afterward. If neither spouse has met the 180-day threshold, the Taylor Circuit Court lacks jurisdiction and will dismiss the petition. Active-duty military members stationed in Kentucky satisfy the requirement even if Kentucky is not their legal home of record.
How is property divided in a Campbellsville divorce?
Kentucky is an equitable-distribution state under KRS 403.190, so a Taylor County judge divides marital property in "just proportions" rather than an automatic 50/50 split. The court first assigns each spouse their non-marital property (assets owned before marriage, gifts, or inheritances), then divides the marital estate considering each spouse's contributions, the marriage's length, and economic circumstances. Marital misconduct is not a factor.
All property acquired during the marriage is presumed marital regardless of whose name is on the title (KRS 403.190(3)). Spouses claiming a non-marital interest must trace the asset back to its separate source. The statute also lets the judge weigh the desirability of awarding the family home to the parent with primary custody of the children.
How is child custody decided for Campbellsville families?
Kentucky custody follows the best-interest standard in KRS 403.270, with a rebuttable presumption that joint custody and equally shared parenting time serve the child's best interest. A Taylor County judge starts from that 50/50 baseline, then weighs factors like each parent's relationship with the child, the child's ties to school and community, and each parent's willingness to support the other's relationship with the child.
The presumption can be overcome by a preponderance of evidence. Under KRS 403.315, the equal-parenting presumption does not apply to a parent against whom a domestic violence order has been entered. Existing custody orders generally cannot be modified for two years absent serious circumstances, so getting the initial parenting plan right matters.