Will my medical marijuana prescription adversely affect my child custody case?

If I have a prescription for marijuana, will this affect my custody case? I do not smoke in front of my child or have it around my child. Probably not,…

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Do I pay half of any child care costs my ex incurs? What kinds?

QUESTIONS: Do I pay half of any child care costs my ex incurs? Or just work-related child care costs incurred? Are “occupational training”-related child care costs something I have to…

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How can I choose which of my parents gets custody of me?

How can I choose which of my parents gets custody of me? In Utah, a child can’t choose. At least not anymore. Under current Utah law, children do not get…

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Utah Courts “Divorce Education for Children” program is free of charge

The Utah Courts provide a "Divorce Education for Children" program that is free of charge for children 9-12 years of age whose parents are divorcing. More information about the program…

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Can I refuse visitation when a non-custodial parent refuses to take a child to school?

Can I refuse visitation when a non-custodial parent refuses to take a child to school? In the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and family law (Utah), the answer is: Unless…

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Why does a parent asking questions turn into a trial?

Why does a parent asking questions turn into a trial? A parent questioning a child often turns into “a trial” when either 1) the child questioned is guilty of wrongdoing…

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Can a mother keeping the children from the father work against in custody litigation?

Can a mother not allowing the father to see his child without reason work against her in litigation for joint custody? Would the father having children from another relationship living…

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Is being a divorce lawyer miserable?

Is being a divorce lawyer miserable? Miserable? Can be (and is) for some divorce attorneys, but for me it’s chronically discouraging. Sure, the human pain and betrayal to which we are…

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Should We Keep Our Divorce Struggles a Secret from the Kids?

Should We Keep Our Divorce Struggles a Secret from the Kids? If a couple conceals their arguments from their children and divorce 'amicably,' does that send a message to the…

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What does a judge ask a child in a custody case?

In Utah (where I practice divorce and child custody law) the answer is: it’s almost impossible to say. Why? For reasons that I assert I can demonstrate are not highly…

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What is the “right of first refusal”? Is it a statutory right in Utah?

What is the "right of first refusal"? Is it a statutory right in Utah? Many of you dealing with child custody disputes may have heard the time "right of first…

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What’s the difference between legal custody and physical custody?

Here's a question many parents have: what is the legal definition of “joint legal custody” and “joint physical custody” in Utah when it comes to the custody of children? Is…

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Is it advantageous to lie and sling mud at the other parent to win custody?

Today's question is: Is it advantageous for the father to file with the court a 2 page document of fabricated lies about mother in a child custody battle as part…

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Do the family courts in the U.S. tend to favor the mother over the father?

Do the family courts in the U.S. tend to favor the mother over the father? Generally, yes. The courts are slowly, but noticeably, becoming less biased in favor of mothers…

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How many states favor mothers in child custody proceedings?

How many states favor giving the child to its mother in a custody hearing? You’re asking a good question, but it’s not the question you think you’re asking. The question…

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Can an abusive father win custody even if they’re not legally married?

I’m in an emotionally, verbally, and financially abusive relationship. Can an abusive father win custody even if they're not legally married? Anybody can do or get anything, if he/she tries…

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Divorcing parents in psychiatric care deny thoughts of self-harm?

Do parents in psychiatric care deny thoughts of self-harm for fear admitting it may impact custody? Is it common for a parent in psychiatric care to make false denials of thoughts…

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2019 UT App 207 – Peeples v. Peeples – modification of child custody

2019 UT App 207 - THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS ADAM LEGRANDE PEEPLES, Appellee, v. ANNALEISE T. PEEPLES, Appellant. Opinion No. 20180713-CA Filed December 19, 2019 Third District Court, Salt…

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If your parents are divorced, what are the chances you will be?

Much, much higher than if your parents had not divorced. See Psychology Today February 5, 2019: “Research shows that children of divorce are more likely to experience a divorce themselves. The statistics…

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Why not reduce child support when the supporting parent loses his/her job?

Should child support be ordered reduced as soon as (automatically when) the supporting parent loses his/her job through no fault of his/her own? Of course. The only reason we don't…

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How is the custody going to work after separation?

After filling for legal separation where is my only child going to stay? I have my child with me right now. How is the custody going to work after separation?…

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Burggraaf v. Burggraaf – 2019 UT App 195 – imputing income, vacating alimony

2019 UT App 195 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS CAROL BURGGRAAF, Appellee, v. BRIAN JOSEPH BURGGRAAF, Appellant. Opinion No. 20180405-CA Filed November 29, 2019 Second District Court, Ogden Department The…

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Why can a child refuse to live with a parent as court ordered?

Why is it OK to allow a 14-year-old child to deny one parent access to him/her without any reason, but it is kidnapping if the child were to refuse to…

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State v. Popp – 2019 UT App 173 – divorce and sexual abuse of children

2019 UT App 173 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellee, v. JUSTIN WILLIAM POPP, Appellant. Opinion No. 20180224-CA Filed October 31, 2019 First District Court, Brigham City…

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Should we put divorcing couples in an adversarial divorce court system?

People who are getting divorced fall into one of two categories: those who want to divorce while doing each other as little harm as possible; and those who don’t care…

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How can we change divorce court to make it easier on the children?

Institute a “loser pays the prevailing party’s attorney’s fees” rule. make divorce cases more litigant focused and tailored to meeting their needs and the needs of their family, instead of…

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What is the best comeback a judge has ever made in court?

I was in a divorce case in which the mother’s attorney was claiming that the father should have limited custodial and parent time with their children because, as the mother’s…

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How do I respond to parental alienation?

What can a parent do if, after the divorce, the other parent who has custody of the child turns the daughter against that parent? A parent in this situation can…

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Do women get sole or primary custody of children by default?

How do you feel about the fact that in divorce, the mother seems to get custody of the child almost by default? Wouldn't it make more sense to have 50/50…

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How did your parents’ divorce when you were a child affect your adult life?

My parents did not divorce, but I base my answer to this question on the experiences of my clients, whether it be how their own children reacted to their divorce…

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Hypothetically speaking, would you divorce over adultery, if you have kids?

Not simply because of an affair, no. It is certainly understandable if one desires to divorce a spouse who has committed adultery. The law understands this as well, which is…

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After a divorce, is joint residential custody better or worse for the children?

Let’s indulge an analogy to answer this question. Is sugar good for you, or bad for you? It depends upon the circumstances. An occasional slice of cake or pie is…

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Pulham v. Kirsling – 2018 UT App 65 – custody, parent-time, child support

Pulham v. Kirsling - 2018 UT App 65 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS KRISTEN PULHAM, Appellee, v. WILLIAM KIRSLING, Appellant. Opinion Nos. 20150577-CA and 20160236-CA Filed April 12, 2018 Third…

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What happens if marriage is abolished, since there are too many divorce rates and cheating affairs?

If that happens, then we will then have taken another step—and a big one—on the road to hell. Although the old joke, “the leading cause of divorce is marriage” may…

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2019 UT App 104 – Ross v. Ross – § 30-3-37 relocation

2019 UT App 104 - Ross v. Ross THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JESSECA RAE ROSS, Appellee, v. TIMOTHY RONALD ROSS,Appellant. Opinion No. 20170916-CA Filed June 13, 2019 Third District…

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My ex told me I can’t post videos of our children on my social media. What can I do?

I'm a mother of 3. The father has custody and I have visits and overnights. The father told me not to post videos of our children on my social media,…

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