Allow me to start this answer by clearing the air a bit: First, there are many fathers who are clearly unfit fathers but who nonetheless believe the only or the…
First, if you are referring to a police report of a DUI citation and/or arrest, in most jurisdictions such records are public record, and thus available not only to your…
Questions regarding one’s character as a spouse and parent often arise in a divorce and/or child custody case, and family members are often some of the best, if not the…
My spouse opens accounts in my name, steals checks, forges my signature. How do I get my spouse to stop? Without telling me, my spouse opens store accounts in my…
How do lawyers drag out court cases? In some respects, the ways are limited only by the power of one’s imagination, but the most common ways I have experienced in…
Married a short time. He demands discovery going back years. Can he? Married 16 months. He became abusive almost immediately after. I filed for divorce. He and his attorney is…
Do I have to respond to discovery questions in a divorce? Yes, unless you can persuade the court that some or all of the discovery requests: violate the rules governing discovery, such…
I was divorced and lied to during my divorce and I am disabled can I take my ex back to court for spousal support? Can you try? Yes. Will you…
If I can’t find an attorney, can it honestly be said I got a fair trial? If a person seeks legal representation in a court, and every attorney they tries…
Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court (pro se)? Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court?…
What’s the benefit of having no record of the child’s interview? This post is the eleventh in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment…
If everyone agrees that the judge needs to know what the child is experiencing, observing, and feeling, why won’t the judge interview the child? This post is the seventh…
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…
Utah Divorce Case Timeline Summary The greatest influence on how long a divorce case takes is usually how much and how severely the parties fight over the issues. The more…
How long does it typically take to get results for a psych evaluation in a divorce? There are many variables; just to name a few: how easily the kind of…
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…
You question has two parts. Part 1: can you legally record phone calls (or an in-person conversation)? ANSWER: It depends on the jurisdiction. Some states won’t allow you to record…
Not absolutely, but it can be illegal to video record someone in your home without his/her knowledge. Here is the answer for my jurisdiction (Utah): Utah Code § 76-9-401. Definitions.…
Doing the Work on Your Case Is Hard, and the Client Must Help Do It By Phillip Aguirre, Paralegal Believe it or not, even though you hire a lawyer, that…
My bank account was subpeonaed. Will the bank share business account transactions or only personal account? In Utah, where I practice law, here’s how the bank will respond to the…
QUESTION: How can I call my 10-year-old as a witness in family court to say where she would like to live, and why? ANSWER: First, you may want to re-think your…
QUESTION: How do I stay calm during my divorce deposition when my ex has told extreme lies about me? My ex gave his depo first. He said things that made…
Have you ever thought about “bugging” your children’s teddy bear or diaper bag to eavesdrop on your ex? A parent in Utah tried this exact thing (spoiler alert: it didn’t…
What happens if someone doesn't answer their discovery questions in a child custody battle? What CAN happen (in Utah, where I practice family law): (See Rule 37—particularly Rule 37(b)—of the…