The basic legal requirements applicable to answer forms are set forth in the Civil Rule (CR) 10, which provides that a Kentucky answer form must include the name of the court, names of the parties to the proceeding, the style of the proceeding, the file number, the nature of the pleading. Because most non-attorneys are unfamiliar with the rules and procedures for filing answers, many pro se litigants choose to download sample divorce answer forms online.

Each averment in defense/response should be set forth in a concise, numbered paragraph. The overriding goal is clarity: each numbered paragraph should be direct, and relate to a single allegation and/or occurrence. See CR 10.02.

Generally, a defendant has 20 after he or she has been served with the divorce complaint to serve his or her answer.

KENTUCKY RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
CR 10 FORM OF PLEADINGS

CR 10.01 CAPTION; NAMES OF PARTIES

Every pleading shall have a caption setting forth the name of the court, the style of the action, the file number, and a designation as in Rule 7.01. In the complaint the style of the action shall include the names of all the parties, but in other pleadings it is sufficient to state the name of the first party on each side with an appropriate indication of other parties.

[Adopted eff. 7-1-53]

CR 10.02 PARAGRAPHS; SEPARATE STATEMENTS

All averments of claim or defense shall be made in numbered paragraphs, the contents of each of which shall be limited as far as practicable to a statement of a single set of circumstances; and a paragraph may be referred to by number in all succeeding pleadings. Each claim founded upon a separate transaction or occurrence and each defense other than denials shall be stated in a separate count or defense whenever a separation facilitates the clear presentation of the matters set forth.

[Adopted eff. 7-1-53]

CR 10.03 ADOPTION BY REFERENCE; EXHIBITS

Statements in a pleading may be adopted by reference in a different part of the same pleading or in another pleading or in any motion. A copy of any written instrument which is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof for all purposes.

[Adopted eff. 7-1-53]