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…
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…
The Utah custody evaluator pool just got bigger!
BREAKING NEWS: The custody evaluator pool just got bigger! That means faster scheduling, faster completion, and lower prices! The amendment is effective November 1, 2019. CJA04-0903. Uniform custody evaluations. AMEND. Adds…
Why is it common for the custodial parent to villainize the ex to their child?
I don’t know if it is common for one parent in a divorce (custodial or non-custodial) to villainize their ex to the child, but we know it happens frequently and…
Why do courts seem to rule against husbands so unfavorably regarding custody and alimony?
Sometimes a husband/father is legitimately ruled against in a child custody case because he is unfit to exercise custody. Sometimes that unfitness may be his own fault (he’s abusive and/or…
Can custody evaluators see through a narcissist’s lies?
No, not simply by virtue of their being custody evaluators. Sometimes custody evaluators and other mental health professionals give the impression (either deliberately or inadvertently) that they have magic, infallible…
Can children choose with which parent they will live?
How much input do you let your child have in deciding who they're going to live with or which parent they'll be spending more time with? This is a question…
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…
Why do abusers sometimes get custody of their children?
Simply (but accurately) put: they may intimidate, shame, and/or fool the other party into settling the custody case such that they agree to the abuser being awarded custody ; their…
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…
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…
How many years is it likely to be before father’s rights are recognized as equal to mother’s rights in child custody cases?
Not many. In fact, in many jurisdictions this has already occurred (many states have, in the past few years, passed laws that presume joint equal custody is in the child’s…
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…
2018 UT App 181 – Chaparro v. Torero – default judgment, findings of fact, child custody
2018 UT App 181 – Chaparro v. Torero THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS ELDA CHAPARRO, Appellant, v. ENRIQUE TORERO, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170494-CA Filed September 20, 2018 Second District Court,…
Nebeker v. Orton – 2019 UT App 23 – child custody and parent-time
Nebeker v. Orton - 2019 UT App 23 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS SHANE NEBEKER, Appellant, v. TRISHA ANN ORTON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170438-CA Filed February 14, 2019 Sixth District…
Plan a Parenting Schedule That Works for Your Family – by Ryan Howard
Published with permission and by request of the author: https://smartparentadvice.com/parenting-schedule/
2019 Utah Legislative Session – parentage, child custody factors
Welcome back to our feature on new laws from the 2019 Utah Legislative Session. There were a lot of changes in family law in 2019. The legislature amended section 78B-15-610…
2019 UT App 82 – Blocker v. Blocker – terminating supervised parent-time
2019 UT App 82 – Blocker v. Blocker THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS KIRSTEEN DIDI BLOCKER, Appellee, MICHAEL PHILLIP BLOCKER, Appellant. Opinion No. 20170167-CA Filed May 16, 2019 Fourth District…
2019 UT App 81 – In re A.R. – permanent custody and guardianship
2019 UT App 81 – In re A.R. THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF A.R., R.R., AND V.R., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…
Child Custody, Utah Code Section 30-3-10, and medical cannabis
Section 30-3-10 provides some of the criteria the court must consider in analyzing and making its custody award. With the legalization of medical marijuana, the Utah legislature amended Section 30-3-10…
How can I get a divorce if I don’t know where my spouse is?
If I'm married with a child (separated for 4 years), how do I get a divorce and establish a child support order, if I don't know where my spouse is?…
Cox v. Hefley 2019 UT App 60 – attorney consent or consultation, third party decision-maker
2019 UT App 60 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS CAMERON MICHAEL COX, Appellee, v. PAIGE CHARISSA HEFLEY, Appellant. Opinion No. 20170903-CA Filed April 18, 2019 Second District Court, Ogden Department…
Nebeker v. Orton – 2019 UT App 23 – custody and parent-time
2019 UT App 23 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS SHANE NEBEKER, Appellant, v. TRISHA ANN ORTON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170438-CA Filed February 14, 2019 Sixth District Court, Richfield Department The…
I recorded my husband telling me that he wants to hit me. Will this help me obtain custody of our child?
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…
Can a stepparent get custody of a stepchild, if the biological/adoptive parent’s parental rights are terminated?
Question: If a child's parents were to lose custody of him, and the only family member left was the stepparent's family (not legally related), would the stepparent(s) get the child?…
Marijuana and Child Custody Still Don’t Mix in Utah, You Fools! Ignore This at Your Peril!
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…
Do you think fathers should have the right to 50/50 split custody from birth, even if mom is breastfeeding?
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…
A list of common, but very good, Utah divorce questions (with answers)
ERIC, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 20+ YEARS. WE HAVE 4 CHILDREN TOGETHER 3 OF WHOM ARE STILL MINOR CHILDREN. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT BE…
What legal rights do I have if my abusive husband makes a false claim against my mental health to get emergency custody of our children?
“What legal rights?” You ask “What legal rights do I have if my abusive husband makes a false claim against my mental health to get emergency custody of our children?”…
Utah divorce and child custody awards – statutory factors the court must consider
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…
Erickson v. Erickson-2018 UT App 184-modifying child custody/parent-time-discovery-expert witness-child testimony-attorney fees
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 are unmarried. Can I choose which one I live with?
So my parents were unmarried and I’ve been in custody of my mother. I want to be with my dad however, how does everything work so I can live with…
My mom has full custody, but I want to live with my dad. What do I do?
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?
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…
What is the best way to get a 50/50 custody and visitation plan in family court?
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…
My parents have a joint custody of my brother and I, but I want to live with my mom
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…
Are family courts biased against parents with diagnosed mental illness when deciding custody?
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 custody of their children?
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,…
I have no job, I’m living in my parents’ house, and I’m on methadone. Can I get 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 child? What factors does the court consider?
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…
Child custody: What is it? Do women get custody of a baby?
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…
Noncustodial Parents: Understanding Parent-Time
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…
What is the average cost of divorce, when child custody is contested?
How much does it cost to divorce on average, with two kids and contested custody? On average? I’d say around $20,000, if the case is contested. But, as you will see…
What are the legal repercussions of posting an email chain between myself and my daughter’s custodial parent exposing her downright shady behavior?
What are the legal repercussions of posting an email chain between myself and my daughter's custodial parent exposing her downright shady behavior? Many who “answered” your question didn’t read your…
How can I file for the custody of my kids if they live in a different state with their dad?
How can I file for the custody of my kids if they live in Arizona and I live in California? Their dad has sole custody, but I still have my…
Why are women generally awarded child custody more often than men?
QUESTION: From a lawyer’s perspective, why do women get child custody almost 90% of the time? Is there really a bias? What factors come into play when deciding about it?…
Kentucky Now Leads the Nation in Shared Parenting After Divorce
National Parents Organization Celebrates Landmark Kentucky Shared Parenting Law NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION | PRESS RELEASE April 26, 2018 NATIONAL PARENTS ORGANIZATION CELEBRATES LANDMARK KENTUCKY SHARED PARENTING LAW With Governor Bevin’s…
Do underage children have any say in custody in the U.S.?
Do underage children have any say in custody in the U.S.? In my jurisdiction where I practice family law (Utah), the answer may be hard to discern by reading the…
Do experts help in divorce cases? Specifically custody evaluators?
Do experts help in divorce cases? Specifically custody evaluators? That depends on how you define “help,” and if you define “help” as “dramatically improve your chances of success,” then generally…
The court awarded my ex custody of our kids, but they live with me. Can I legally claim them on my taxes?
The court awarded my ex custody of our kids, but they live with me. Can I legally claim them on my taxes? Here’s the answer as it applies under Utah…