Many spouses and parents going through a divorce and child custody case may believe there is value in using mental health professionals. This can be true, if you use mental…
Question: Do you think married people should be able to get a divorce if one or both sides no longer love the other even if they have a kid/kids, or…
Question: I’m going through a divorce. A day ago, I recorded my husband telling me that he “wants to hit me in the face.” Will this evidence help me obtain…
It’s largely a matter of age and size/strength or resourcefulness. Technically a child never legally has the power to choose with which parent he/she will live (the only person with…
If it's so terrible to separate children from parents at the border, why is it so acceptable to separate children and parents in divorce? Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com…
Almost, but not yet. Until recently, it wasn’t just a cultural norm, but a legal principle that presumed during a child's "tender" years (generally regarded as the age of four…
Without him perhaps even realizing it, he taught me what is to me the most important thing I could learn and know and be: do what is right, let the…
What do I do? My ex-wife tonight, in a fit of anger, told me that she and the kids will be moving out of state. There's no reason--like a job…
Ever? Certainly. Always? No. (and remember: though I’m a divorce lawyer, that does not mean I am a raving fan of divorce. I’m not. Rarely does even the “best divorce”…
Can I successfully put a morality clause in a custody agreement to prevent my child from a living arrangement where my ex is living with a girlfriend? This practice is…
In Utah, almost certainly not. I cannot think of a scenario in which a parent (mother or father) has sole physical custody of the children and would have to pay…
No matter what you're told, marijuana use is STILL ILLEGAL in this state. Illegal use of street drugs, including but not limited to marijuana, can and surely will be used…
One of the biggest worries (perhaps the biggest) for a parent going through divorce is the question of child custody. A common misperception is that “child custody” means simply who…
Child Support Can Be Modified, If Circumstances Warrant As financial situations change, the amount of child support ordered may no longer be reasonable or even feasible. Your income may have…
I approach this question from the perspective of a divorce lawyer. I am a big fan of remarriage under the right circumstances. Be very careful and don’t move too fast…
Should you wait until your children have grown up if you were contemplating divorce but are still amicable to one another? Yes, and God bless you if you have the will and…
Is it wrong to go through with divorce when my child wants to live with both mom and dad? On that basis alone? No. For example, if you want to…
As a man, what steps can I take to safeguard my interests before telling my wife I want a divorce? There are two types of men who ask this question:…
Do you think fathers should have the right to 50/50 split custody from birth, even if mom is breastfeeding and the separation will likely affect her ability to do so…
Parent-Time During the Holiday Season 2018 The holiday season is upon us, and many divorced and single parents need to prepare and plan for your holiday season parent-time this time…
If a divorce and custody case were finalized in one state and the custodial parent and the children move to another, which state should the future custody disputes need to…
2018 UT App 196 The Utah Court of Appeals DONOVAN TODD STEPHENS, Appellee and Cross-appellant, v. BRIDGET NICOLE STEPHENS, Appellant and Cross-appellee. Opinion No. 20170440-CA Filed October 12, 2018 Third…
Utah divorce and child custody award – statutory factors the court must consider (based upon Utah Code § 30-3-10, § 30-3-10.2, and UCJA 4-903) SUMMARY OF THE FACTORS: the past…
QUESTION: I have a question about what is often called "the right of first refusal" to provide care for a child when the other parent who would otherwise be scheduled…
Erickson v. Erickson - 2018 UT App 184 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS KIT RICHARD ERICKSON, Appellant, v. SHANDI ERICKSON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170100-CA Filed September 27, 2018 Third District…
My parents got divorced when I was 3. I’m currently 14. My mom has full custody of me, but I want to live with my dad full time in Denver,…
How do I show the court about my sons non-diagnosed NPD mother to get a sole custody? Oh, ho, ho, ho! So you want to prove your wife has Narcissistic…
How does custody of children work if the parents live in different states? I’ll answer this question in the context of Utah’s family law (I practice divorce and family law…
There are many, many factors the judge will consider. I’ll list them. First and foremost is: distance between the parents. If the parents don’t live close enough to each other…
If a divorced parent doesn’t want visitation rights (i.e. doesn’t want to see his/her child), is that legal, or would the court order the unwilling parent to have visits? This…
QUESTION (Child custody and parental sociopathy): How does ASPD (Sociopathy) affect child custody, especially if the diagnosed parent is consistent? ANSWER (Robert A. Simon, Ph.D., Ph.D., M.A. Clinical Psychology, California…
My parents have a joint custody of my brother and I, but I want to live with my mom because my dad is unsupportive. Is it easy to go to…
What can we do about the laws that are outdated about taking custody of a child? In a clear and concise manner write to A) your state legislators, and B)…
Why do unhappy married couples stay together for the sake of the children, when they could easily give the children two happy homes instead living in one miserable home? Mom…
Are family courts biased against parents with diagnosed mental illness when deciding custody? Yes, they can be, under certain circumstances. A common tactic in child custody disputes is to accuse…
Why don't some people fight for child custody in some divorce or child custody cases? Others have explained why, in their particular situations, they felt that while they desired custody,…
What do I do to gain shared custody of my now 13-year-old child? I do not have a current job (due to a medical problem), and I am living in…
How can I get the custody of my two-year-old son in court? I am an SFG in service, not always at home, but I can give my child to my…
What is child custody? In America, do women get custody of a baby? “Child custody” is defined in Black's Law Dictionary (10th ed. 2014) as follows: 2. Family law. The…
Why do unhappy married couples stay together for the sake of the children, when they could easily give the children two happy homes instead living in one miserable home? Mom…
2018 UT App 137 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS BRANDON CHRISTOPHER LAY, Appellant, v. CORINNA NICOLE LAY, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170230-CA Filed July 12, 2018 Third District Court, West Jordan…
This opinion is subject to revision before final publication in the Pacific Reporter Hahn v. Hahn - 2018 UT App 135 IN THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS RANDY R. HAHN,…
This opinion is subject to revision before final publication in the Pacific Reporter 2018 UT 30 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH ROCIO SMITH, Appellant, v. KAYELYN…
Perspective of a Law Student: How my views on court decisions have changed after 2 years of law school by Alyssa Miller Before law school I perceived court cases and the…
(See also Smith v. Robinson, Case No. 20160106, Filed July 05, 2018, 2018 UT 30, a companion case to this one) This opinion is subject to revision before final publication…
Noncustodial Parents: Understanding Parent-Time When going through a divorce, one of the most common issues is child custody. A common misperception about child custody is that it is simply who…
QUESTION: Is it unreasonable for me to assume my kids would have their own clothes at their dad's place? He has been requesting that I send specific items with the…
What can you do if your ex has tens of thousands to spend on child custody litigation and plans on taking you to court repeatedly in different states until your…
Child Custody: How do courts provide for parents to take care of their children after divorce? When parents divorce, one of the biggest potential conflicts is the question of child…
Do you believe in public shaming of parents who don't pay child support? No, for at least four major reasons (in no particular order): Public shaming of a parent who…