Many individuals in a divorce consider hiring a private investigator, hoping to uncover information that could affect the outcome of the case. While hiring a private investigator (PI) may seem…
Most of the answer to your question lies in your question itself. If you should be winning the arguments in your case but are losing “due to lack of representation,”…
No, and I’ll tell you why in the context of discussing a newly proposed Utah Rule of Civil Procedure which would be Rule 53A, entitled “Special masters for parenting disputes…
Child custody disputes between parents (whether in a divorce case or between unmarried parents) are among the most bitterly fought cases, as parents fight over the right to be integral…
I am a divorce and family lawyer. So I know that there are laws on the books in my jurisdiction (Utah) and in other jurisdictions throughout the U.S. that make…
In contemporary Utah divorce and child custody disputes, courts frequently order parents and children to participate in reunification therapy, family systems therapy, or other forms of therapy and counseling. While…
In your divorce case, you, your spouse (or other parent) and your children may be required to undergo a custody evaluation. The custody evaluation is governed by Utah Code of Judicial Administration Rule…
While every divorce case is unique, the following outlines the general stages and timeframes involved in a Utah divorce case. Understanding the basic timeline of a typical case in Utah…
So many in the Western world who could be happily married have lost sight of the purpose of marriage, and so their marriages end in divorce not because of any…
There are some genuinely nice men and women serving in law enforcement. That stated, any time when a law enforcement officer is asking you questions, be aware that 1) law…
There is not much you can do to deny a spouse a divorce, if one lives in the U.S. Spouses in the U.S. can file for and obtain a divorce…
Ideally, with overwhelming amounts of compelling, objectively verifiable evidence that 1) the mother is unfit to exercise custody of the child; and 2) you are fit to exercise custody of the child. Why overwhelming…
There are a few things that you should be aware of before you decide to pull the trigger on filing an appeal on the outcome of your divorce trial. First,…
Divorce is one of the most difficult things that someone can experience. Many in the field of psychology rank divorce just behind a spouse’s death on lists of the most…
If a spouse (husband or wife) is ordered by the court to pay alimony but then quits his/her job and then tries to claim “I can’t pay alimony because I…
[Full disclosure: I make no secret of the fact that I have yet to encounter a custody evaluation conducted in Utah that is not pseudo-scientific, incompletely and incompetently documented, and…
Any old lawyer to look at your case? Well, if you can’t find a good lawyer who is skilled in the area of the law affecting you, it may (may)…
Good point, and good question. Although the amount of time fathers are being awarded with their children is increasing in child custody dispute cases (and has been for the past…
Many people believe that everyone bends the truth from time to time. While the typical “no, that dress does not make you look fat” white lie in your everyday interactions…
I get calls about this frequently from former and from brand new clients: it may have been half a year or more since the child custody case was resolved, either…
Yes, it’s true; this happens sometimes. But more broadly speaking, there are all kinds of situations in divorce where both husbands and wives, fathers and mothers make extortionate deals to…
I cannot answer this question as it applies in all jurisdictions, but I can answer it as it applies in Utah, the jurisdiction where I am licensed to practice divorce…
If there is no court order that addresses and controls the question of who can pick up or drop off the children in connection with custody and parent time exchanges,…
Wallace v. Wallace - 2024 UT App 164 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JAMES DOUGLAS WALLACE, Appellee, v. JOANNA JUNE WALLACE, Appellant. Opinion No. 20220559-CA Filed November 15, 2024 Third…
Small v. Small - 2024 UT App 173 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS NATHAN DALE SMALL, Appellant, v. TRISHA DAWN SMALL, Appellee. Opinion No. 20230487-CA Filed November 29, 2024 First…
I can't speak to what the law is in all jurisdictions, but I can speak to what the law is in Utah on this subject based upon my experience and…
Everyone has seen a trial portrayed in a movie or video. An actual trial (especially in a divorce case) is not like television or movies would have you believe. Initially,…
Once I realized that “negotiating trick” is just a synonym for “manipulation,” at best and “fraud” at worst, I stopped employing such tricks in negotiations. You wouldn’t want to be…
How is child support calculated in Utah? How long does child support last? How is child support enforced? How child support in Utah is calculated. I will explain it both…
Everyone has seen the movies and shows where a lawyer represents his/her client (in and out of court) like a berzerker. We have heard of the horror stories of innocent…
Do you find yourself involved in a child custody dispute (whether in a divorce case or a parentage/paternity action? If so, has your spouse or your attorney may have proposed…
Alimony is not purely a mathematical formula in Utah, but the governing section of the Utah Code (see Section 81-4-502. Determination of alimony) does relay on some basic addition, subtraction, and division. First,…
Some people ask this question because they believe an attorney is somehow obligated to accept any and every case he/she is asked to accept. This is not true. Some people…
Chlarson v. Chlarson - 2024 UT App 160 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JUSTIN THOMAS CHLARSON, Appellant, v. JACQUELINE NICOLE CHLARSON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20230742-CA Filed November 7, 2024 Second…
Your divorce lawyer will tell you about the things you need to do in your case, the documents and other evidence you need to produce, the questions you need to…
2024 UT App 156 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS AMANDA GODFREY, Appellee, v. RANDY GODFREY, Appellant. Opinion No. 20210871-CA Filed October 31, 2024 Third District Court, Silver Summit Department The…
Lerman v. Lerman - 2024 UT App 155 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DEREK LERMAN, Appellee, v. MICHELLE LERMAN, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230913-CA Filed October 31, 2024 Second District Court,…
Divorce cases are not tried to a jury in any state except one: Texas. In all other states, including Utah, divorce and child custody cases are tried to the bench,…
Duffin v. Duffin - 2024 UT App 154 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JAMES MARLO DUFFIN JR., Appellant, v. BRANDY ELIZABETH DUFFIN, Appellee. Opinion No. 20221046-CA Filed October 31, 2024…
Know this first: the best things to do are often easier said than done. That stated, they are not that hard to do, but many are not that appealing to…
2024 UT App 133 - Bountiful City v. Swenson THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS BOUNTIFUL CITY, Appellant, v. ROBERT TAKASHI SWENSON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20230430-CA Filed September 19, 2024 Second…
The Utah courts have created a sizeable library of forms; a few that everyone is required to use, and a lot that can be used--optional, in other words--if one wants.…
Lunt v. Lunt - 2024 UT App 148 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS MEGAN LUNT, Appellee, v. DREW E. LUNT, Appellant. Opinion No. 20220596-CA Filed October 18, 2024 Third District…
Corn v. Groce - 2024 UT App 84 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JANETTE CORN, Appellee, v. BLAKE GROCE, Appellant. Opinion No. 20220526-CA Filed May 31, 2024 Second District Court, Farmington…
We are not meant to be alone. We are meant to be married and to have a family. This is why losing/ending a marriage (and breaking up a family, if…
Answer: Almost certainly no. See Dahl v. Harrison, 265 P.3d 139, 2011 UT App 389 (2011). Note: Under the current Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, responses to written discovery requests are due…
This is not an easy decision to contemplate for most people of your age. If you married in your twenties, then you are likely at least 57 years old when…
Believing that change is inevitable, normal, and survivable. Jonny Thomson made this reel on his Facebook page, “Mini Philosophy,” which I think answers your question about as well as it…
Yes. Anyone who denies this fact is lying to you. This does not mean that fathers cannot get a fair shake in child custody cases; they can, but most fathers…
Today’s question comes from a viewer of the UFTLV channel who wants to know not only what this term means, but how it is properly pronounced! First, the definition: an…