Last updated: November 2, 2026
Urgent help if you are in danger now
If you or your children are in danger now, call 911. Do not wait for a court order or other papers. If speaking is unsafe, follow the dispatcher’s questions as best you can.
For free, confidential help at any hour, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use its online chat from a safer device. A local advocate can help with shelter, children, pets, court, money, transport, and a plan that fits your needs.
Lincoln Trail counties: If you are in Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, or Washington County, call 1-877-949-0515 for domestic violence services. This line began July 1, 2026. It does not replace 911 in an emergency.
If someone may watch your phone, car, browser, email, or accounts, use a safer device when you can. A trusted person’s phone, clinic, school, library, or workplace may be an option. A quick-exit button does not always hide your web history.
Bottom line
Kentucky has domestic violence help for people in all 120 counties. Local advocates can help you make a safety plan, find shelter when space is open, seek court help, and ask about housing, food, child care, and transport. Use ZeroV’s local program finder to find a nearby team. You can ask for help even if you do not want to stay in a shelter or are not ready to leave.
This is general information, not legal advice or a safety plan made for your case. An advocate, legal aid worker, court clerk, or emergency responder can help you decide the next safe step.
What has changed since June 2026?
Lincoln Trail service change: On July 1, 2026, domestic violence services moved to neighboring ZeroV programs after SpringHaven closed. Call 1-877-949-0515 for crisis help and referrals in the eight Lincoln Trail counties. ZeroV’s Lincoln Trail service plan lists who serves each county. Its September 30 update says a new local program is being planned; the temporary service plan remains the route to follow until a new provider is named.
Housing help: Kentucky Housing Corporation’s current homelessness resources page makes clear that Any Door KY serves 118 counties. Fayette and Jefferson counties have their own systems. An intake does not promise housing.
Where to start in Kentucky
Pick the step that fits your biggest need. You do not need to tell your whole story to ask for help.
You need to leave today
Call 911 if there is danger. For shelter or a safer place, speak with a local advocate. Kentucky’s state crisis-center guide lists services such as shelter, food, clothing, court support, transport, counseling, and help for children. Space may be limited.
You need court protection
Ask your county’s circuit court clerk how to file a petition for a protective order. Kentucky has different court orders for family or household abuse, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault. Kentucky Justice Online explains your options.
You need housing help
Start with a domestic violence program if you need safe shelter now. For long-term rent, housing, or a move, check ASMOM’s Kentucky housing assistance guide and ask an advocate about local intake rules.
You need food or care
Use the official kynect benefits portal for SNAP, Medicaid, KTAP cash help, and child care assistance. If child support steps could cause harm, ask a worker about a good-cause review first.
Quick reference table
| Need | Start here | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danger right now | 911 | Tell the dispatcher you need police, medical help, or both. | Do not wait for paperwork if there is immediate danger. |
| Confidential DV support | National Hotline | Ask for a nearby Kentucky program. | Use a safer device if your phone may be watched. |
| Local shelter or advocacy | ZeroV member program | Ask for shelter, court, child, transportation, and safety help. | A shelter bed may not be open the same day. |
| Protective order | court self-help | Ask where to file and whether you can use the guided form. | Court staff can explain forms but cannot be your lawyer. |
| Address privacy | Safe at Home | Ask how to apply and use a substitute address. | This helps with public records but does not erase every record. |
| Crime-related costs | CVC online claim | Ask what documents are needed and whether urgent help is possible. | Compensation is not guaranteed and is not instant cash. |
| Food, rent, utilities | Kentucky 211 | Ask for county and ZIP code referrals. | Open programs vary by county and funding. |
Kentucky domestic violence programs
Local domestic violence programs can help with shelter, safety talks, court steps, children’s needs, work, child care, transport, and housing. Kentucky’s health cabinet describes ZeroV’s service network as covering all 120 counties through 15 regional service areas. A local shelter may serve several counties, and help is not limited to people who stay in shelter.
For Lincoln Trail: The July 2026 change affects Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington counties. One crisis line, 1-877-949-0515, connects callers with GreenHouse17 for the first safety talk and a referral. ZeroV’s current plan says Bethany House supports Marion, Washington, and Nelson; the Center for Women and Families supports Meade and Breckinridge; and Barren River Area Safe Space supports Grayson, Hardin, and LaRue. Call first because roles may change.
What an advocate may help with
- Talking through safety needs today or this week.
- Checking shelter space and backup options.
- Helping with court forms or going with you to court.
- Planning around school, work, child care, pets, and travel.
- Finding legal aid, food, counseling, housing, or benefit workers.
If a shelter is full, ask the advocate to check another regional program or a safer short-term option. Do not assume that one full shelter means there is no help. ASMOM’s domestic violence safety guide covers key steps that can apply across states.
Protective orders in Kentucky
Kentucky protective order cases are civil court cases. They are separate from any criminal case. A protective order may tell the other person not to contact you, stay away from you or your children, leave a shared home, or follow other court rules. The judge decides what to include.
Kentucky uses Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs) for qualifying family, household, and certain partner cases. Interpersonal Protective Orders (IPOs) may cover dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault. A judge may first grant an Emergency Protective Order (EPO) or Temporary Interpersonal Protective Order (TIPO). Long-term orders may last up to three years. Ask the clerk which petition fits your case. The Kentucky Court of Justice has an official protective order guide with steps and examples.
Ask the circuit court clerk for form AOC-275.1, Petition/Motion for Order of Protection, or find it on the Kentucky court forms page. You can use the court’s online self-help portal to prepare a form, but check with the clerk how to file it. Ask what to do after hours or on weekends. Procedures can differ by county.
| Court step | Plain meaning | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| File the petition | You tell the court what happened and what protection you want. | Be specific. Include recent threats, injuries, stalking, strangulation, weapons, pets, and child safety facts if they apply. |
| Temporary order | A judge may issue an emergency or temporary order before the hearing. | Temporary orders usually last until a hearing, often within 14 days. |
| Hearing | The court decides whether a longer order should be entered. | Plan to attend. If the other person has a lawyer and you do not, ask legal aid or the judge about your options. |
| After the order | Keep a copy and ask how to report violations. | Register with VINE protective orders to get updates about service, hearings, and expiration. |
There is no filing fee to ask for this protection. You may file in your county of residence or in a county where you fled to escape abuse. If you are staying somewhere secret, ask the clerk how your address is kept off papers the other person may see. After filing, the court decides whether to grant an order. Ask how you will get notice of a hearing.
Do not rely on court papers alone
A court order can help, but it cannot promise safety. Ask an advocate how to handle service of papers, the hearing, school pickup, pets, work, and transport. If an order is broken or danger returns, call 911. For updates on whether an order was served, hearing dates, and its end date, use Kentucky VINE protective orders on a safe phone or email account.
Housing, shelter, and address safety
If you need shelter tonight, call a domestic violence program first. They may also help with clothes, food, children’s needs, court steps, and a way to travel. If there is no bed, ask them to try another partner or help plan a safe option.
For longer-term help, Kentucky Housing Corporation runs Any Door KY in the 118-county Balance of State area. Fayette County (Lexington) and Jefferson County (Louisville) have separate housing intake systems. Ask a local housing worker to check the right system for your county. An assessment is not a waitlist or a promise of housing.
In many federally funded housing programs, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) can protect survivors from being denied housing or removed just because they faced abuse. Eligible tenants may ask for an emergency transfer, a change to a lease, or help keeping records private. The official HUD survivor rights guide describes the rules and forms. These protections do not cover every private rental in the same way. Ask for legal help before ending a lease or ignoring an eviction notice.
Safe at Home: Kentucky’s address program lets eligible survivors use a substitute address on some public records and get mail sent on. It is free and does not require a protective order. You can apply with a sworn safety statement. The Safe at Home application guide explains how to apply and get help from an application assistant.
Address safety caution
Safe at Home does not erase all old records or protect every private account. It generally lasts four years unless ended sooner. Tell the program about an address or name change within 14 days. Some agencies may have a legal reason to need your real address. Before changing schools, court records, leases, or benefits, ask an advocate or legal aid how to keep a new address private.
Money, benefits, medical care, and recovery costs
Leaving abuse can create fast money problems. You may need food, a phone, gas, child care, medication, new locks, documents, counseling, or help replacing items. Start with a domestic violence advocate, then add public benefits and local programs.
Crime Victims Compensation
The Kentucky Crime Victims Compensation Board may cover certain crime-related costs when other sources cannot pay. It may help with medical bills, dental work, glasses, counseling, funeral costs, lost wages, or lost support. Awards are not automatic or quick cash. Start with the state compensation guide to check documents and claim steps. The official online claim form lets you apply; it may ask for a police report and itemized bills later. Call 502-782-8255 if you need the paper form or help.
Sexual assault support
For sexual assault, Kentucky has 13 regional rape crisis centers. They offer free and confidential help at any time. You can ask about a medical exam, an advocate, counseling, or support with reporting. The KASAP survivor finder leads to the program in your county. You can ask for support even if the assault happened long ago.
Food, cash, medical, and child care benefits
Kentucky’s KTAP cash assistance page explains money help for eligible children and the parents or relatives who care for them. SNAP can help pay for food; WIC may help pregnant or new mothers and young children. Medicaid may pay for health care. Child care aid has its own rules. Apply through kynect, call Kentucky DCBS at 855-306-8959 on weekdays, or ask an advocate for help with a safe way to apply.
If a benefits office asks you to work with child support, but doing so may cause physical or serious emotional harm, tell the worker. For KTAP, Kentucky rules allow a good-cause review in some unsafe cases. You may need to explain the risk and may be asked for proof. Ask how the office will keep your address private. Do not sign a form you do not understand without asking for help.
For more food help, see ASMOM’s Kentucky SNAP guide for food benefits and the Kentucky WIC guide for pregnant people, infants, and children under five. If you also need rent, utilities, or basics, compare local choices in the Kentucky emergency assistance guide and the Kentucky family help guide. These are guides to programs, not promises of cash grants.
Children, custody, school, and child support
Abuse can affect school pickup, child care, parenting time, custody, support, and health care. Speak with an advocate or lawyer before changing a custody order, moving with children, stopping visits, or sharing your new address. A protective order may set temporary terms, but other family court orders may also apply.
If you already have a divorce, custody, juvenile, or support case, tell your lawyer and the court clerk. ASMOM’s Kentucky child support guide explains the usual system. If giving your location or cooperating could place someone at risk, ask about safe contact rules and good cause before giving out details.
School and child care tip
If you have a protective order or custody order, ask the school or child care center how to provide a copy, how pickup lists are handled, and who can see your contact information. Give only the details the school needs to follow the order and protect your child.
What to gather if it is safe
Do not risk your safety for documents. If you cannot get papers now, tell the shelter advocate, clerk, school, benefits worker, or legal aid staff. Ask what other proof they can accept. Even if you have no police report, ask about shelter and court options. Save copies only if it is safe to do so.
| Item | Why it may help | If you cannot get it |
|---|---|---|
| ID, birth certificates, Social Security cards | Benefits, school, shelter, housing, medical care | Ask about replacement documents and emergency intake options. |
| Protective order papers or court dates | Court, school, employer, housing provider | Ask the circuit court clerk how to get a copy. |
| Lease, eviction papers, utility bills | Housing help, VAWA rights, emergency aid | Ask for copies only if doing so is safe. |
| Pay stubs, benefit letters, bank records | SNAP, KTAP, Medicaid, child care, legal aid screening | Tell the office what income you have and ask for other proof options. |
| Messages, photos, medical papers, police reports | Protective order, crime compensation, legal help | Ask an advocate how to save evidence without increasing risk. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sharing plans online: Private posts and messages may be watched.
- Using shared devices: Try a safer phone or computer.
- Thinking shelter is the only aid: Programs may help even if you stay elsewhere.
- Missing court dates: A short-term order may end.
- Sharing a new address: Ask about address safety first.
- Ignoring notices: Ask about good cause, housing rights, and appeal dates.
If help is denied, delayed, or full
Shelter is full: Ask a local advocate for another safe provider, a nearby region, transport, or a short-term option. If you face danger, call 911.
Court or legal trouble: Ask why a petition was not filed or a court date was missed, and ask the circuit court clerk about the next step. For an urgent custody, eviction, or order issue, use ASMOM’s Kentucky legal help guide to find a legal aid office. Bring any notice and the date you received it.
Housing or benefits stuck: Ask for a written notice, appeal instructions, and the deadline. Ask a benefits worker about safe contact methods. The Kentucky 211 directory may help you find county services. See ASMOM’s Kentucky community support guide for more local options.
You cannot get to help: Ask an advocate about rides to shelter, court, or a clinic. ASMOM’s Kentucky transportation assistance guide lists other paths to ask about. If a call is unsafe, ask whether you can speak through a trusted advocate with your permission.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling a local domestic violence program
“I am a single mother in Kentucky and I need help with domestic violence. I may need shelter, court advocacy, and help planning for my children. Can I speak with an advocate privately?”
Calling the circuit court clerk
“I need to ask about filing a protective order. Where do I go, what hours can I file, and what should I bring? I also need to know how my address is protected.”
Calling legal aid
“I need legal help related to domestic violence, custody, housing, or benefits. I have children and I am worried about safety. Can you screen me for urgent help or refer me to the right office?”
Calling a benefits worker
“I need help applying for benefits, but child support cooperation or sharing my address may create a safety risk. How do I ask for good cause or a domestic violence exemption?”
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos corren peligro ahora, llame al 911. Para ayuda confidencial las 24 horas, llame al 800-799-7233 o envÃe START al 88788. Un programa local puede ayudar con refugio, seguridad, niños, transporte, vivienda y la corte. Puede pedir apoyo aunque no se quede en un refugio.
En los condados de Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson y Washington, llame al 1-877-949-0515 para servicios contra la violencia doméstica. Esta lÃnea comenzó el 1 de julio de 2026.
Para pedir una orden de protección, consulte con la oficina del secretario del tribunal de circuito. Para ocultar su dirección en ciertos registros públicos, pregunte por Safe at Home. Para alimentos, atención médica, ayuda en efectivo o cuidado infantil, use kynect o llame al 211. No se ponga en peligro para recoger papeles. Pida ayuda a un defensor o abogado.
Frequently asked questions
Who should I call first for domestic violence help in Kentucky?
If anyone is in danger now, call 911. For private help with shelter or a safety plan, call 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or find your county program through ZeroV. Use a safer device if needed.
What changed in the Lincoln Trail region in July 2026?
Services shifted to nearby ZeroV programs on July 1, 2026. In Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, or Washington County, call 1-877-949-0515 for an advocate and a local referral.
Can I get help without staying at a shelter?
Yes. Local programs may offer safety planning, court help, counseling, services for children, and housing or benefits referrals. What is open depends on your county and the program.
How can I ask for a protective order in Kentucky?
Ask the circuit court clerk where to file form AOC-275.1. A judge decides whether to grant a temporary order and may set a hearing. Ask about filing after hours, how your address is handled, and when to return.
Does Kentucky Safe at Home require a court order?
No. Eligible survivors may apply with a sworn statement about the need to keep an address private. The free program can use a substitute address on certain public records and forward mail.
What if child support cooperation is unsafe?
Tell your benefits or child support worker about the risk before giving contact details. For KTAP, ask about a good-cause review. An advocate or legal aid lawyer may be able to help.
Can Kentucky pay crime-related medical or counseling bills?
The state Crime Victims Compensation Board may cover some eligible costs when other sources cannot pay. Apply through its official form and ask what proof is needed. Payment is not guaranteed.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and high-trust nonprofit sources linked in the article.
A Single Mother is independent. It is not a government agency, benefits office, law firm, or medical provider. Help, funding, county contacts, and court steps can change. Check the official source before acting.
Corrections: If you find an error, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article gives general information. It is not legal, medical, financial, safety, or government advice. A local advocate or lawyer can help with your case.
Last updated: November 2, 2026 Next review: January 31, 2027