​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Kentucky’s public guardianship program is administered by the Division of Guardianship in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Individuals are served by offices in all regions of the state.

In Kentucky, guardianship is a legal relationship between a court-appointed adult who assumes the role of guardian for an individual under guardianship. An individual under guardianship is a person who has been declared legally disabled by the court and is no longer able to care for his or her personal and/or financial needs.

A guardian may be a friend or family member ​willing to care for the disabled individual. If no one is available to care for the disabled person, the court appoints the Cabinet for Health and Family Services as state guardian. The duties of the state guardian include:

Full Guardianship/Full Conservator – The Cabinet is responsible for the personal and financial needs of the individual. A court has found the individual fully disabled and all personal and financial rights are removed except the right to vote. The judge decides whether or not an individual retains the right to vote.

Personal Guardian – A court finds the individual fully disabled in his/her personal affairs and appoints a personal guardian who is responsible for only personal affairs of the individual.

Conservator – A court finds the individual fully disabled in managing his/her financial affairs and appoints a conservator who is responsible for financial or fiduciary affairs of the individual.

Limited Guardian - A limited guardian may be appointed if the disabled person is declared partially disabled and can manage some personal needs but may need assistance with others. In this case, the court will also decide which civil rights the person can retain, and which are given to the guardian. These may include the right to vote, the right to drive a car, the right to make medical decisions, and the right to determine where to live.

Limited Conservator - A limited conservator may be appointed if the disabled person only needs help with managing some financial or fiduciary affairs. In this case, the court will also decide which civil rights the person can retain, and which are given to the conservator. These may include the right to sell property and the right to sign legal documents such as checks, marriage licenses, or wills.

To refer an individual to the public guardianship program, please contact the Specialist that serves the county where the individual resides. Use the Referral Map​ to locate the appropriate specialist or locate their contact information and the counties they cover below:

Darren Morgen​ - Specialist, Northern Branch

(502) 764-0882

Anderson, Bullitt, Franklin, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, Washington.

Ella Fouts - Specialist, Eastern Branch

(502) 564-7620

Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Bracken, Breathitt, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Floyd, Gallatin, Grant, Greenup, Harrison, Johnson, Kenton, Knott, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Robertson, Rowan, Scott, Wolfe.

Missy Maxwell - Specialist, Western Branch

(270) 987-9638

Allen, Ballard, Barren, Breckinridge, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren, Webster.

Misti Strunk - Specialist, Southern Branch

(606) 219-5058

Adair, Bell, Boyle, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Estill, Fayette, Garrard, Green, Harlan, Jackson, Jessamine, Knox, Laurel, Lincoln, Madison, McCreary, Mercer, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Taylor, Wayne, Whitley, Woodford.

Referrals may also be emailed to the Guardianship Program​ or call (502) 564-5361.