Why do pro se litigants fail so often?
Why do pro se litigants fail so often? And if you’re wondering what a pro se litigant is, here’s the definition: someone who argues his/her own case in a lawsuit,…
How do courts view mothers who abandon their family during a divorce?
How does the court view mothers that abandon their family during a divorce? Generally, with disbelief, at first. Why? A few reasons. One, to its credit, our culture still holds…
What happens if you are served divorce papers yet don’t sign them?
What happens if you are served divorce papers yet don’t sign them? I will answer this question as it applies in the jurisdiction where I practice divorce law (Utah): If…
How can we change the court system in order to make divorces easier on the children?
How can we change the court system in order to make divorces easier on the children? In my opinion: Institute a “loser pays the prevailing party’s attorney’s fees” rule. make divorce…
Would you consider the family law system a current political issue?
Would you consider the family law system a current political issue or problem? Yes, in fact the institutional defects and injustices in family law and the family law courts throughout…
Must I engage in all-day divorce mediation or some other time period?
Must I engage in all-day mediation in my divorce action, or for some other specific time period? No, there is no mandatory minimum period of time you must spend in…
Is it OK to fill out divorce documents by hand in ink, or must they be typed?
It depends upon the court rules of the jurisdiction in which you would be filing your divorce documents are to be filed. In Utah, where I practice divorce and family…
Will Kim Kardashian will be taken seriously if she becomes a lawyer?
Do you think Kim Kardashian will be taken seriously if she passes the bar exam and becomes a lawyer? No (at least not at first), but I don’t think she…
What are some cases that restored your faith in the judiciary?
There are not enough well-conducted and well-decided cases to restore my overall lack of faith in the legal system generally. To be sure, there are very good judges and others…
Eberhard v. Eberhard – 2019 UT App 114 – modification of alimony
2019 UT App 114 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS TODD EBERHARD, Appellant, v. LORI ANN EBERHARD, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170721-CA Filed June 27, 2019 Third District Court, Salt Lake Department…
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…
Janson v. Janson – 2019 UT App 106 – setting aside settlement agreement
2019 UT App 106 - Janson v. Janson - setting aside stipulation THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DEIDRE SUE JANSON, Appellant, v. JEFFREY ALAN JANSON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170541-CA Filed…
Have you ever told a client he/she would be better off settling a case, only for the client to take the case to trial anyway?
Yes, and most of the time when a client decides to take a case to trial over a client’s advice the client does worse than he/she would have if he/she…
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…
Can people with few assets and no children really do their own divorce?
Yes. And I’m a man who makes his living as a divorce lawyer. You would think I’d be one of the last people to tell you that there are many…
My list of YouTube videos I like best on successful depositions
Here it is: my list of YouTube videos that I like best on how to identify, prepare for, and give a successful deposition. #1 Attorney Richard LaGarde has spent over thirty-five…
Cool as a Cucumber : How to Testify Successfully at Your Deposition or in Court in a Utah Domestic Relations Case
Cool as a cucumber[1]. Is that you? It can be. When it comes to testifying, follow the Golden Rules: 1. Always tell the truth. 2. Simply telling the truth is not…
In your experience, how often do divorces get resolved “amicably” after being filed in court?
Some couples actually realize that while their marriage is a failure, that does not mean that they are bad people. They can care enough about each other to divorce amicably.…
Divorce Preparedness: What do I need to do before filing for divorce?
When deciding if you are going to file for divorce, there are some things you need to know, and many things you should consider, before filing for divorce I. Why…
Why do divorces take so long to finish?
Here are the reasons, as I see them, why too many divorce cases cost so much and take so long to finish (in no particular order): 1. Some divorce lawyers…
Why do judges say “don’t break court orders,” but then do nothing when the order is broken?
Why do judges tell people not to break court orders but then do nothing when the court order is broken? Reason #1: because of the principle of “easier said than…
Are divorce courts biased towards either gender?
Are divorce courts biased towards either gender? In my educated and experienced opinion, yes, in most (not all) cases. It’s not usually motivated by animus toward men or women (although…
Hahn v. Hahn – 2018 UT App 135 – custody, jury trial, constitutionality
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,…
What Is Alimony, and How Does It Work in Utah?
What is Alimony? Alimony is a legal obligation imposed by court order upon one spouse in a separate maintenance action or divorce action to provide financial support for the other…
Proposed Amendments to the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure – Comment Period Closes July 19, 2018
Amendments to the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure have been proposed. The comment period closes July 19, 2018. If you want to comment, you can. Just click here: https://www.utcourts.gov/.../rules-of-civil-procedure.../ Rules of…
What is no-fault divorce, and how does it work?
A lot of people think that “no-fault divorce” means that your spouse cannot get a divorce unless you’ve done something wrong (i.e., something to cause your spouse to “deserve” a…
Is Done Better than Perfect in Your Divorce Case?
"Done is better than perfect." This is good advice for divorce lawyers, but equally good advice for divorce clients (really, it is) sometimes. Excerpts from Perfect, by David M. Ward …
Attorneys: “glorified pencil-pushers”?
This is from part of an e-mail that I received from Richard Jacobs. He helps attorneys with their marketing. I like much of Richard's approach because, like me, he doesn't…
Can I serve my spouse with divorce papers in person and have them notarized?
Can I serve my spouse with divorce papers in person and have them notarized? In Utah, no. But here is how (see Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 4(d)) you…
Can the divorce go through if you have not been served divorce papers?
Question: Can the divorce go through if you have not been served divorce papers? Answer: No divorce action can be decided and a judgment entered unless the defendant or respondent…
Can I represent myself in a child custody dispute and win?
Can I represent myself in child custody matters of my own children and win? What you really mean is, “Can I represent myself in child custody matters of my own…
Sandusky v. Sandusky – 2018 UT App 34 (23-Feb-2018) – bifurcation, separation agreement, court discretion
2018 UT App 34 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS KYLEE J. SANDUSKY, Appellee, GEORGE A. SANDUSKY, Appellant. Opinion No. 20160131-CA Filed February 23, 2018 Third District Court, Silver Summit Department…
What is the best way to get the courts to follow the laws already on books and the constitution for custody battles?
What is the best way to get the courts to follow the laws already on the books and the constitution for custody battles? To be frank, in my opinion there…
As a divorce lawyer, what is the most petty thing one of your clients had you do?
QUESTION: As a divorce lawyer, what is the most petty thing one of your clients had you do? ANSWER: Thanks for the question. The answer is: nothing. Legal whores do…
Cool as a Cucumber: How to Testify Successfully at Your Deposition or in Court in a Domestic Relations Case
Cool as a Cucumber[1]: HOW TO TESTIFY SUCCESSFULLY AT YOUR DEPOSITION OR IN COURT IN A DOMESTIC RELATIONS CASE [1] This phrase (c. 1732) derives from ancient folk knowledge confirmed by…
5 Things Divorce Will Never Save You From
5 Things Divorce Will Never Save You From Make sure you know what you're doing before you make a decision you can't undo. Are you feeling frustrated, unsatisfied, and even…
Why get a divorce lawyer who thinks and acts like a judge, not like a spouse, and not like a hired gun?
Why get a divorce lawyer who thinks and acts like a judge, not like a spouse, and not like a hired gun? The best divorce lawyer is not someone who…
What if my spouse won’t complete the divorce orientation and education courses?
What if my spouse will not complete the divorce orientation and education courses for parents? Can the judge still grant the divorce? Yes. You can file a motion notifying the…
How long is too long for a court to take a family law case under advisement?
In Utah, where I practice, the period of time that a judge has to render a decision on a matter that is submitted for final determination is provided in Utah…
What is the function of bailiff in court?
What is the function of bailiff in court? In Utah, where I practice, they are officers of the county sheriff or city police department who are in the courtroom to…
DeAvila v. DeAvila, 2017 UT App 146 (August 10, 2017) – what is marital property? – how is marital property valued?
DeAvila v. DeAvila, 2017 UT App 146 (August 10, 2017) ----------------------------------------- THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS CRISTY DEAVILA, Appellant, v. PERICLES DEAVILA, Appellee. ----------------------------------------- Opinion No. 20160024-CA Filed August 10,…
Christensen v. Christensen – 2017 UT App 120 – July 20, 2017
Christensen v. Christensen - 2017 UT App 120 - July 20, 2017 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS ELENA KAY CHRISTENSEN, Appellee, v. BRENT CHRISTENSEN, Appellant. Opinion No. 20150994-CA Filed July…
Fit parents and their children deserve joint custody
As a matter of basic human rights and human nature, unless they are unfit then divorced and separated parents and their children deserve joint custody. "[A] parent's right to the…
What are my chances of getting 50/50 custody of my child in court, if the other parent refuses to give me more time?
What are my chances of getting 50/50 custody of my child in court, if the other parent refuses to give me more time? If I'm an air traffic controller and…
What are the biases shown in family law?
What are the biases shown in family law? Every human bias imaginable can affect a family law case, but the ones that I find most common and most troubling are…
How do I find a family lawyer specifically dedicated to helping out?
How do I find a family lawyer specifically dedicated to helping out? Easy (-er said that done, but still easy to give you the sure-fire directions to seek out a…
Is it legal for the custodial parents to use child support money on themselves?
Is it legal for the custodial parents to use child support money on themselves? This is a superb and a brave question. Here is my answer (for the State of…
Veysey v. Nelson, 2017 UT App 77 – Utah Code § 78B-12-214, request for reimbursement, reasonable notice, laches
Veysey v. Nelson, 2017 UT App 77 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS ANDREW VEYSEY, Appellee, v. ALEXIS NELSON, Appellant. Opinion No. 20150609-CA Filed May 4, 2017 Third District Court, Salt…
Guide to Reducing the Time and Costs of Divorce in Utah
Guide to Reducing the Time and Costs of Divorce in Utah 1. If you are the victim of serious or escalating domestic violence, get help and get to safety first.…