KY RO

Based on 2022 amendments to the law, updated our Kentucky Restraining Orders section as follows:

1. Revised What is the legal definition of domestic violence in Kentucky? and What is the legal definition of dating violence and abuse, sexual assault, and stalking? to add the following additional acts of violence to the definition of domestic violence and dating violence:
   • committing cruelty to animals in the 1^st or 2^nd degree;
   • torturing a dog or cat; 
   • committing sexual crimes against an animal; or
   • making you fear that the acts listed above will immediately be committed against a domestic animal with which you have a close bond in order to coerce, control, punish, intimidate you or to get revenge against you.
2. Revised What protections can I get in an emergency protective order and a domestic violence order? and What protections can I get in an interpersonal protective order? to include the following additional protections:
   • stating which communications are allowed and which are not allowed, permitting limited communication if you request it;
   • allowing either party to get his/her personal belongings from the home and order law enforcement to assist, if requested (in a DV order only); 
   • give you possession of any shared domestic animal; and
   • if you request it, allow you and the abuser to be in a common area together under limited circumstances.

We also added these crimes to our Kentucky Crimes page four related statutes to our Selected Kentucky Statutes page.