At Helmers+Associates, we are unabashedly anti-racist. We continue to be committed to fighting for fair and equal treatment of all races by our legal system. We stand firmly with the Black community in its fight to overcome the historic injustices it has suffered, and we pledge to...
Some weeks can be exciting, while others are not. Fourth of July week at the Kentucky Court of Appeals was more of a dud than a firework show this year. With that being said, we are still doing our patriotic duty by bringing you the...
By Melina Hettiaratchi, Senior Associate, Helmers + Associates The 2025 passage of Senate Bill 26 marks a groundbreaking moment for disability justice in Kentucky’s child welfare and adoption systems. The new law, which had bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Beshear on March...
This newly rendered case from Kentucky's highest court leads to a surprising shift in Kentucky adoption law. Read on for the latest in family court drama. G.G. and T.S. v. CHFS, 2024-SC-0143-DGE In a 6–1 decision authored by newly elected Justice Goodwine, the Supreme Court reversed the...
We are proud to announce a meaningful win for our client, Jonah Bevin, who is now empowered to seek the support he was long denied. In a detailed and decisive order entered on May 16, 2025, Judge Angela Johnson of Jefferson County Circuit Court ruled...
Just one case in family law from the Kentucky Supreme Court this go-round, but it is one worth reading. The case may sound familiar to the loyal readers of the Round Up as the parties were featured on the April 4, 2024, Round Up. In...
A phenomenal article by Senior Associate Attorney Melina Hettiaratchi was published in the March 2025 issue of the Louisville Bar Association Bar Briefs. Melina served as the Chair of the LBA Family Law Section in 2024 and currently holds the position of Vice-Chair. Although the...
Well, folks, the Kentucky Supreme Court has spoken on Commonwealth v. K.O. on the issue of whether marijuana use constitutes child abuse or neglect. The Supremes appear to have started with a conclusion and worked backward. In contrast, the Kentucky Court of Appeals had previously delivered...
For the week of January 24, the Kentucky Court of Appeals dropped a whopping eight family court related rulings. Several of them are worth a read, both on the Round Up and in full. Michael Scott Adkins v. Allison Thomas Adkins, 2023-CA-1142 Although unreported, this case will...
As family lawyers, we see more heartbreak than happy endings most days and Valentine’s Day is no exception. If you’re feeling not quite (or definitely not) in love this February 14, put on our second rendition of A Valentine’s Day Playlist from Your Divorce Lawyer. The...
The H+A team is starting the year off right in the press! As we’ve written before, JaNae plays an active role in her professional organization, the Association of Legal Administrators. This month, her continuing commitment to DEIA was spotlighted in an article published in Legal...
