In re D.S. – 2025 UT 11 – termination of parental rights – standard of proof
This opinion is subject to revision before final publication in the Pacific Reporter In re D.S. - 2025 UT 11 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH STATE…
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,…
In re I.C. – 2025 UT App 20 – thinking of smuggling a child instead of adoption?
In re I.C. - 2025 UT App 20 2025 UT App 20 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF I.C., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS…
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…
In re J.M. – 2024 UT App 147 – Termination of Parental Rights
In re J.M. - 2024 UT App 147 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF J.M., S.M., L.M., AND J.A.M., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. N.M., Appellant, V. STATE OF UTAH, Appellee. Opinion…
KSL News Story “Child and Family Services speaks to lawmakers after 12-year-old’s death”
In this KSL.com news article, written by Garna Meijia, reporting on the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) addressed the Rules Review and General Oversight Committee. Please read more…
In re K.B – 2024 UT App 114 – Termination of Parental Rights
In re K.B - 2024 UT App 114 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.B., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. M.B., Appellant, v.…
In re A.H., 2024 UT 26 – Termination of Parental Rights
This opinion is subject to revision before final publication in the Pacific Reporter In re A.H. - 2024 UT 26 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH STATE…
2024 UT App 91 – In re R.D. – Juvenile Court Jurisdiction – Parental Presumption
2024 UT App 91 – In re R.D. THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS IN THE INTEREST OF R.D. AND Z.J., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. K.J., Appellant, v. N.J.…
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.…
2024 UT App 47 – In re K.J. – removal, shelter hearing
2024 UT App 47 – In re K.J. THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.J., M.J., AND K.J., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…
Have You Heard That Fathers Defeat Mothers’ Claims of DV and Child Abuse by Claiming Parental Alienation?
We all know the aphorism, "If it looks/sounds to good to be true, it probably is [not true]." This also means, however, that if it looks/sounds too 𝙗𝙖𝙙 to be true, it…
In re H.H. – 2024 UT App 25 – termination of parental rights
In re H.H. - 2024 UT App 25 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF H.H. AND N.H., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. T.H.…
How much does a parent have to pay in child support? What is the legally set amount?
Some people believe that child support is the same for all parents. They believe that every parent who is ordered to pay child support pays the same amount of money…
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 157 (HB0157 (utah.gov)), “Child Custody Factor Amendments”.
This post discusses another proposed family law bill under consideration for the 2024 Utah legislative session, House Bill 157 (HB0157 (utah.gov)), “Child Custody Factor Amendments”. This bill, if passed, would…
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…
Obstacles Fathers Face in Trying to Get Joint Custody of Their Children
I have been asked by a reader to answer two questions. The first: whether I believe courts generally apply a double standard in the treatment of mothers and fathers when…
In re J.T. – 2023 UT App 157
2023 UT App 157 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF J.T. AND A.T., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. F.R., Appellant, v. STATE OF…
In re R.G. – 2023 UT App 144 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS
STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF R.G., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. G.G., Appellant, v. STATE OF UTAH, Appellee. Opinion No. 20220635-CA Filed November 24, 2023 Second…
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,…
In re H.M. – 2023 UT App 122 – termination of parental rights
In re H.M. - 2023 UT App 122 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF H.M. AND D.M., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. G.B., Appellant, v.…
In re D.S. – 2023 UT App 98 – reversal of termination of parental rights
In re D.S. - 2023 UT App 98 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF D.S. AND K.S., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. S.S.,…
Mandatory Lethality Assessments on Domestic Violence Calls. In Other Words: Pandora’s Box
The Utah State Legislature passed this into law an amendment to Utah Code § 77-36-2.1, which was effective May 3, 2023. The newly amended code section now requires police officers to…
Can the Mom End up Paying Child Support to the Father if He Was Abusive?
There are so many things wrong with this question. But thank you for asking it because it can be the start of a beneficial conversation and lead to a better…
In re K.R. – 2023 UT App 75 – termination of parental rights vs. guardianship
In re K.R. - 2023 UT App 75 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.R. AND R.B., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…
In re M.S. – 2023 UT App 74
In re M.S. - 2023 UT App 74 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF M.S., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. R.S. AND…
State in Interest of P.J.R., 2023 UT App 27
THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF P.J.R., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. C.S., Appellant, V. STATE OF UTAH, Appellee. Opinion No. 20220264-CA…
State In Interest of B.W. – 2022 UT App 131
State In Interest of B.W. - 2022 UT App 131 Court of Appeals of Utah. STATE of Utah, IN the INTEREST OF B.W., J.W., and N.W., persons under eighteen years…
In Re K.K. – 2023 UT App 14 – Abuse and Neglect Adjudication
In re K.K. - 2023 UT App 14 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.K., S.K., AND S.K., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…
In re K.K. – 2023 UT App 13
In re K.K. - 2023 UT App 13 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.K., S.K., AND S.K., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…
In Re K.T. 2023 UT App 5 – Substantiation of Child Abuse
2023 UT App 5 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.T., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. J.K., Appellant, v. STATE OF UTAH,…
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…
In Utah is there a minimum age at which minor children can be left at home or allowed to walk to school by themselves?
No. There is no minimum age at which child can be left unsupervised in Utah. Child and Family Services uses the following definition to evaluate each situation: Non-Supervision – The…
Do you automatically lose your kid if CPS takes you to court?
No, but if CPS or DCFS or DFS or whatever your jurisdiction calls that particular agency of the state filed an action in court to place your children in foster…
Are there laws that protect one parent from being a victim of the other parent’s continuous reporting, through the other parent’s attorney, about violations of a restraining order that are all lies?
Are there laws that protect one parent from being a victim of the other parent's continuous reporting, through the other parent's attorney, about violations of a restraining order that are…
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…
When dealing with CPS, will court-appointed attorneys do as well as private attorneys?
When dealing with CPS, will a court appointed attorney do as good of a job in the handling of your case as a private attorney would? Odds are that a…
You’re just arrested for crimes you didn’t commit. Do you talk to the police?
You were just arrested for a crime you didn't commit. Do you talk to the police and detectives, or stay silent and call an attorney? Exercise your right to remain…
Re: CPS. Is this good news?
What does it mean when my lawyer said that everything is looking okay in the CPS case, that she got some insights on the case, and she talked to the…
