Judge orders reinstatement of child’s Kentucky medical card, awards tax dependent benefit in Riddle v. Collins

A family‑court dispute over a child’s medical coverage and tax claim ended with the judge finding the child primarily resides locally and ordering steps to restore Kentucky medical coverage.

Counsel for the father argued the child’s Kentucky KCHIP coverage had been canceled and that the court’s prior orders required the custodial parent to maintain the card. Defense counsel for the mother said she had updated her own enrollment when she moved and the change produced a Tennessee listing. The court examined the parties’ positions and the child’s school and residency and concluded the child primarily lives in Kentucky.

The judge ordered the mother to have Kentucky coverage reinstated within five days and found the local custodial parent is entitled to claim the tax dependent benefit for the child. The court declined to award attorney fees at the hearing, citing lack of proof for such an award on the record.

The court’s orders require the reinstatement of KCHIP within five days and directed counsel to file any records necessary to support future motions; the matter was otherwise closed for present purposes.