See also Kentucky Bar Foundation, Kentucky Appellate Practice ยง 21.03 (1985).See American Fidelity Casualty Co. v. Patterson, 314 Ky. 741, 742-43, 237 S.W.2d 57 (1951) ("Not having a final judgment in the record, we are without jurisdiction of the appeal in this case."); see also Coomer v. Commonwealth, 309 Ky. 575, 576, 218 S.W.2d 393 (1949) ("[A]s there is no judgment contained in the record there is nothing from which he may prosecute an appeal; therefore, we are without jurisdiction to entertain his motion and it is hereby overruled."); Christman v. Chess, 102 Ky. 230, 43 S.W. 426 (1897) ("If there was not a final judgment or order in this case, it follows that this court has no jurisdiction of the appeal.").Cf. Morgan v. Register, 3 Ky. (Hard.)
An order must be final in order to be appealable. Am. Fid. & Cas. Co. v. Patterson, 237 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Ky. 1951). The test for a final judgment is whether the order grants or denies the ultimate relief sought, or whether some further step is necessary to finally determine the rights of the parties. Brumley v. Lewis, 340 S.W.2d 599, 600 (Ky. 1960).