In re I.C. – 2025 UT App 37 – child abuse and neglect
In re I.C. - 2025 UT App 37 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF I.C., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. A.C., Appellant,…
It Tolls for Thee: The All Too Frequent Tragic Cost and Futility of Family Court
“Quid rides? Mutato nomine et de te fabula narrator. [Why do you laugh ? Change only the name and this story is about you.]” Here’s a deeply disturbing but all…
In re K.M. – 2025 UT App 17 – parents regaining custody from guardian
In re K.M. - 2025 UT App 17 Oral argument (Utah Court of Appeals archive): https://youtu.be/e8OUzlARvZk THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS IN THE INTEREST OF K.M., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN…
What Do Judges Like and Not Like to Hear at Custody Hearings With High Conflict Parents Who Will Not Agree on Custody Terms?
Many attorneys and parents who have been through child custody and parent time disputes before will give you some basic and sound advice; specifically, 1) ensure that your arguments have…
2024 UT App 52 – In re A.S. – child neglect, photographing genitals
2024 UT App 52 - In re A.S. THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF A.S. AND J.S., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…
What are the child custody factors that judges consider?
What are the child custody factors that judges consider when determining what's in a child's best interest in custody disputes according to Utah’s family law statutes? The main factors are…
CPS Has Encouraged Parental Alienation Before My Parental Rights Have Been Taken, My Public Defender Has Not Been Representing Me the Way He Was Supposed to Be, but I Didn’t Know Until Now. What Can I Do?
There are plenty of things you can do (plenty of activity in which you can engage), but whether any of it will do any good is the question. The answer…
House Bill 193 (HB0198 (utah.gov))
Another bill under consideration during the 2024 Utah legislative session is House Bill 193 (HB0198 (utah.gov)). This bill would, if passed into law, 1) make clear that a “totality of…
House Bill 140 (HB0140 (utah.gov)), “Amendments to Custody and Parent-Time”
Today’s post on proposed family law legislation under consideration during the 2024 Utah legislative session is House Bill 140 (HB0140 (utah.gov)), “Amendments to Custody and Parent-Time”. This bill, according to…
House Bill 129 Child Support Requirements
Today’s blog post treats another proposed law that is up for consideration during the 2024 Utah legislative session: House Bill 129 (HB0129 (utah.gov)), entitled “Child Support Requirements”. This bill would,…
H.B. 20 “Parental Rights Amendments”
Today’s blog post treats House Bill 20, one of several proposed family law-related pieces of legislation for the 2024 Utah legislative session. H.B. 20 is entitled “Parental Rights Amendments” According…
Family Law Legislation for the 2024 Utah State Legislative Session
Here is a list of the current proposed family law legislation for the 2024 Utah State Legislative session, along with a (very) brief description of the proposed legislation. If you…
What Good Parents Need to Know About Child Custody Disputes with an Evil Parent
You hear and read on attorney websites stuff like, “Navigating child custody arrangements during divorce can be challenging.” That’s not the half of it. Child custody disputes with an evil parent…
The Problem with Private Guardians ad Litem. Part 2 of 3
As any attorney can do with any client, a PGAL clearly has the right to argue on a child client's behalf, and the Utah Code makes clear that a PGAL…
In re A.S.G.-R. – 2023 UT App 126 – permanent custody and guardianship
In re A.S.G.-R. - 2023 UT App 126 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF A.S.G.-R., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. G.R., Appellant,…
What Must the Juvenile Court Consider on a Petition to Terminate a Parent’s Parental Rights?
Before terminating a parent’s rights, the court must find that termination is “strictly necessary to promote the child’s best interest.” This analysis must be undertaken from the child’s point of view.…
As a Joint Legal and Physical Custodial Parent, Can I Legally Prevent the Other Parent From Going on a Vacation (Either Out of State or Out of the Country) With Our Child or Children?
Unless a court were to order that a parent was barred from traveling out of state or out of the country with the children on vacation, a joint legal and…
How Do I Inform a School About Divorce and That Their Father Is Not Allowed to Pick Them Up?
Great question. There are many ways to do this wrong, so let’s start with those. Just tell the teachers and principal and expect them to take your word for it; bring…
An Interesting and Troubling Article on the Topic of Family and Family Law From the Salt Lake Tribune
This is an interesting and troubling article on the topic of family and family law from the Salt Lake Tribune: Mother of teen killed in Salt Lake City murder-suicide pushed…
Can I File for an Order of Protection Against My Daughter’s Father for Myself, Even if She Is Living With Him?
If he poses a danger to you, then yes. The fact that a child you share lives with him will not prevent you from obtaining a protective order against him…
How do you win a case against your ex for false accusations?
If you find an attorney who knows a sure-fire, fail-safe way to defend an ex-spouse or an ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend against “false accusations,” that attorney is likely a multimillionaire because possessing such…
T.W. v. S.A. – 2021 UT App 132 – child custody
2021 UT App 132 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS T.W., Appellant, v. S.A., Appellee. Opinion No. 20200397-CA Filed November 26, 2021 Third District Court, West Jordan Department The Honorable Dianna…
The Protective Order Deception
We all know that a protective order provides little to no substantive protection for the purported victim. The joke around the legal profession is that when a bullet, blade, bat, or fist is headed your…
How can I get an emergency hearing for custody and child support?
I will answer this question based upon the law of the jurisdiction where I practice family law (Utah). So the question is: How can I get an emergency hearing for…
How do I fight a DUI without a lawyer?
How do I fight a DUI without a lawyer? You don’t. Too much at stake. Too hard to do on your own. I’m a lawyer (a divorce and family law…
Can I petition the courts for custody of a child who is homeless?
Yes. In the jurisdiction where I practice family law, there are several ways to seek and obtain custody of child who is not your biological offspring: petition for guardianship petition…
Can I petition the courts for custody of a homeless child?
Yes. In the jurisdiction where I practice family law, there are several ways to seek and obtain custody of child who is not your biological offspring: petition for guardianship petition…
