What policies and factors determine how child support is calculated? This is a good question and a question that many parents ask. Every state in U.S. has child support calculation…
I know two people that separated and share custody and both have jobs yet he pays child support? How does this work? This is a great question and a question…
Why do attorneys often use the title "Esquire" in their business cards and letterheads? Because the kinds of attorneys who use "Esquire' are conceited and pretentious. There's a great article…
Why is my lawyer ignoring me? There are many possible reasons. Lawyers are notorious for being hard to reach and for being unresponsive and nonresponsive. If you aren’t paying your…
Do parents who share joint equal physical custody of their children pay child support? If my spouse and I were to agree to share joint equal physical custody (50-50) of…
Why would a court/judge want the opposing parties to settle? Because if the parties settle, then the judge does not have to preside over a trial in the parties’ case.…
Do lawyers ever regret helping a client or obtaining a particular judgment? Yes, yes, of course. We all know that there are plenty of lawyers who will prostitute their professional skills for money…
S.B. 122 (4th Substitute) passed by the Utah State Legislature March 5, 2021! Who should care and why? The elephant in the room is this: if there is no gender…
Do you need a reason to get a divorce? Not really, at least not in the jurisdiction where I practice divorce law (Utah). Even if you get a “no fault”…
Why do attorneys often use the title Esquire in their business cards and letterheads? Because those kinds of attorneys are conceited and pretentious. There's a great article about this on…
Lawyers, why do some cases drag for years without a conclusive decision? Does it help to get a favorable outcome or not? Does delay help one to get a favorable…
Why do lawyers get paid no matter the results? Your question assumes a false fact. Lawyers are not always paid no matter the results. One example is a contingency fee…
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…
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…
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…
Are all lawyers psychopaths? No, although social science research repeatedly finds that law is one of the top professions to which psychopaths are drawn (it’s #1 or #2 on most…
Why is it difficult for a father to get child custody? Because there is a pernicious and false belief in far too many of the courts (not, notably, in society…
Should more people have to attend court-ordered parenting classes? Generally speaking, no. For the most part, when you lead a horse to water and try to force him to drink,…
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?…
Are older lawyers better? If by “older” you mean lawyers who are not fresh out of law school, the answer is: almost always yes. They don’t teach you how to…
GALs and custody evaluators waste too much money and time, and can never provide the same accuracy as a judge’s direct interview of the child. This post is the fifteenth…
How is it possible that people go bankrupt during divorce in the USA? Isn't it a 50/50 split? It’s not “the divorce” that causes people to go bankrupt, it’s the…
What is the best case law to cite during a high conflict custody battle where parental alienation has been occurring? If you know of any, please let me know. My…
Which Is Better: spending thousands on GAL/custody evaluator or $0 on a judge interview? How could it be better to spend thousands on a GAL or custody evaluator when the…
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 a lawyer drops a client, is the reason shared with the judge and/or opposing counsel (i.e., the client refused to be reasonable, etc.)? In Utah, where I practice divorce…
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…
What are common Latin legal terms used in divorce and family law? While the use of Latin terms and phrases in the family law is decreasing, there are still many…
2020 UT App 146 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JERRY V. BROWN, Appellant, v. YVONNE A. BROWN, Appellee. Opinion No. 20190543 Filed October 29, 2020 Fourth District Court, Provo Department…
What advice would you give someone before a divorce, if it’s known it may happen and you’re not in the wrong? This is a very important question that too few…
Would you divorce your husband if he had a child with his last relationship without telling you? I do not believe that this would, alone, be reason to divorce your…
How can I protect my assets before getting married without prenup? Short answer: One option (not a very good one, frankly, but about the best there is under the circumstances…
Today’s post features Seth Godin’s blog (the link to his blog post is provided below). After you read it, ask yourself whether can you guess why this Seth Godin blog…
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,…
What advice would you give someone before a divorce, if it’s known it may happen and you’re not in the wrong? This is a very important question that too few…
If I have to give my spouse half of my retirement after a divorce, should I still go forward or just ride it out? Great question, but not for the…
2020 UT App 100 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JOSHUA J. YOUNG, Appellee, v. MICHAELA M. HAGEL, Appellant. Opinion No. 20190661-CA Filed June 25, 2020 Second District Court, Farmington Department…
2020 UT App 124 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JODI JENSEN, Appellant and Cross-appellee, v. GARY CANNON, Appellee and Cross-appellant. Opinion No. 20190433-CA Filed August 27, 2020 Third District Court,…
From Seth Godin: The magic of trade-offs If you make a laptop more powerful, the battery life will suffer and it will get heavier too. Trade-offs. If you make a…
When one’s former spouse alienated someone from their family, how can one repair the relationship with the family after the spouse is divorced? I am thankful for your question, and…
Why do lawyers like to handle large divorce settlements? The more complex and acrimonious the case and/or the more there is at stake, the more work there is to do.…
When a young couple divorces after only a month of marriage, should there ever be an expectation that one party owes anything to the other, even if they lived with…
What if you don’t get divorced and just move away? The risks and dangers in just up and moving away from (abandoning) your spouse are manifold. Here are a few…
How can I talk to a lawyer when I don't have money to pay for one? Most jurisdictions have resources for consulting an attorney, even receiving certain kinds of legal…
What if you don’t get divorced and just move away? The risks and dangers in just up and moving away from (abandoning) your spouse are manifold. Here are a couple…
Can I get a cost-free divorce if, say, my spouse is verbally and emotionally abusive? In a sense, yes, but not because of a finding that your spouse “verbally and…
The Utah Courts provide a "Divorce Education for Children" program that is free of charge for children 9-12 years of age whose parents are divorcing. More information about the program…
What should you know as a woman about divorcing? Consider the source of this answer, as it comes from a married (not divorced), male divorce lawyer. To many reading this,…
Black and white, plain and simple. We really mean that here at Utah Family Law, LC. What you normally hear about divorce and family law is all over the map–even when you hear it from lawyers.
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