Biography:
Lori Shelburne has been practicing Family Law in Fayette and surrounding counties for over 30 years. She is one of Lexington’s most experienced family law attorneys with a reputation for thoroughness and skill. Lori has handled virtually every kind of Family Law matter imaginable, earning numerous professional distinctions and accolades for her contributions to the legal community.
- Regular Court appearances for over 30 years. Lori Shelburne has appeared before every family law judge in Fayette and surrounding counties since 1994.
- Lori has represented family law clients at every level of state trial and appellate court and in federal District Court.
- Lori’s experience includes all types of divorce litigation from the most basic to the most complex high asset case.
- Lori frequently analyzes and prepares complex financial cases such as tracing non-marital property claims and asset dissipation.
- Lori has drafted and negotiated numerous prenuptial agreements.
- Lori frequently works with forensic accountants, real estate professionals, mental health professionals, and other professionals in Family Law litigation matters.
- Lori is experienced with Dependency Neglect & Abuse cases and has represented parents seeking to recover their children after removal as well as grandparents and other family members seeking custody of at-risk children.
- Lori has made countless appearances in child custody and child support matters.
- Lori has handled numerous adoptions including those involving the voluntary and involuntary termination of parental rights.
- Lori has made countless successful appearances with clients in mediation.
- Lori has handled numerous appeals of family law and other civil matters from District Court, Circuit Court, and the Court of Appeals.
Lori’s practice has not been limited to Family Law matters. Additional practice experience includes:
- Business sale transactions
- Commercial lease transactions
- Franchise and license matters
- Collection litigation
- Commercial bank litigation
- Foreclosures
- Business Disputes
- Employment Contracts
- Construction litigation
- First Amendment Law
Lori’s Shelburne brings her diverse practice experience to the table in every case. This is beneficial to her Family Law clients since Family Law matters often involve civil law issues beyond property, debt, custody and support. Ms. Shelburne’s belief is that her primary role is to help her clients resolve their problems with a settlement that is reasonable under the law and the unique facts of each case. If that is not possible, however, she will pursue the litigation process with passion and attention to detail.
Areas of Practice
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Property Division
- Non-Marital Property Claims
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Maintenance (Alimony)
- Dependency, Neglect, and Abuse
- Prenuptials
- Appeals
- General Civil Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Commonwealth of Kentucky, 1994
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 1996
Education
- University of Kentucky College of Law (Lexington, Ky.) J.D., 1994
- Transylvania University (Lexington, Ky.) B.A., 1988 Cum Laude
PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTIONS:
- “Super Lawyers” peer review ranked;
- “Best Lawyers” in America and Kentucky, peer review ranked;
- Named 2024 Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Lexington by “Best Lawyers”;
- 5-star Martindale peer review ranking;
- Admitted as a Fellow to the AAML (American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers) in 2010, a distinction limited to preeminent Family Law practitioners. There are fewer than 30 Fellows in the state of Kentucky;
- Past President, Kentucky Chapter of the AAML;
- Past Chair, Fayette County Bar Association, Family Law Section.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LEGAL COMMUNITY:
- Lori has presented legal seminars on a variety of topics including but not limited to:
- The Family Law portion of the Kentucky Supreme Court Update at the KBA Annual Convention every year since 2010;
- The Nuts and Bolts of handling a divorce case;
- The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act;
- The Uniform Interstate Family and Support Act;
- Effective drafting of prenuptial agreements;
- Termination of spousal maintenance;
- Child support in high income cases;
- Effective use of the Summary Exhibit under KRE 1006;
- The differences between defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans.