How do you get pet custody after a breakup?

I cannot speak on what the law is in every jurisdiction, but according to Utah (Utah is where I practice divorce and family law), the answers are:  If by “breakup”…

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What are some ways to make the divorce rate drop?

First, some marriages need to end in divorce. That is why divorce exists. But divorce is not always the answer when one or both spouses is/are miserable. Far too many…

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If a father is working full time and is expecting to get 50/50 custody, how does he arrange for the kids when he is at work from 9-5 p.m.?

If a father in this position can’t figure this out on his own, he’s probably not in a position to be entrusted with exercising 50/50 custody. If a father wants…

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Which is more difficult for children: parents getting a divorce or parents getting an annulment?

Both result in Mom and Dad no longer living together with their children. Divorce ends a marriage, and annulment results in a legal and religious ruling that the marriage does…

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Is it common for someone to choose to end a 10+ year marriage then secretly create conflict to trick kids into saying, “yes” to “should we leave”? 

Common? No.  Not all that unusual? Yes.    Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277     https://www.quora.com/Is-it-common-for-someone-to-choose-to-end-a-10-year-marriage-then-secretly-create-conflict-to-trick-kids-into-saying-yes-to-should-we-leave/answer/Eric-Johnson-311    

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Do family courts favor mothers? 

While there are some judges, perhaps even some jurisdictions, that are outliers, the answer to your question is: generally yes, no question about it.    While the preference for and…

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Does the statute that enables a spouse to not testify against their spouse carry over into divorce if the alleged crime took place during the marriage? 

I don’t know the rules as they apply in different jurisdictions, but I can tell you what the rule is in Utah, where I practice divorce and family law.  In…

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When it comes to divorce and family law firms, never hire on faith and hope

Do your research with due diligence. Interview a lot of different firms and attorneys (I’m talking 5 to 10, not just 2 or 3—you’ll never get a feel for the…

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What can I do if my ex won’t stop taking me to court?!

My ex has been taking me to court for over 4 years to get my joint custody taken away. Her father worked for the courts for 25 years so she…

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Why are so many attorneys seemingly against legal separation?

Why are so many attorneys seemingly against legal separation? I truly feel in my circumstance its best for me/us. Is it because they wont make as much money? We have…

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How do you change the name on a deed after a divorce?

In Utah (where I practice divorce and family law), there is more than one way to transfer title to the marital home (assuming the parties own a home), but the…

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What does temporary custody without prejudice mean?

It means that the child custody order is a temporary, as opposed to a permanent and final, order of the court.  Why would a court enter a temporary child custody…

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How do I file a response in a divorce if the summons is invalid?

How do I file a response in a divorce if missing the court’s address for filing invalidates the summons? Be very careful getting cute with procedural technicalities. If you were…

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Can being a noncustodial parent improve the child-parent relationship?

Can being a noncustodial parent improve the child’s relationship with the noncustodial parent? Recently, a reader on Quora, where I comment regularly, commented on a post of mine with this: …

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How long do you pay alimony in Utah?

The law governing the duration of alimony is pretty simple and straightforward:  See Utah Code § 30-3-5, subsections (1)(c) and (11)(e):  (1) As used in this section:  *****  (c) "Length…

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Is the Johnny Depp divorce trial actually newsworthy?

The divorce trial wasn’t all that newsworthy or memorable (celebrities divorcing is expected), it’s his defamation trial against his ex-wife that is newsworthy. Why?  Although his defamation case is not…

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Are you going through a child custody dispute in court, or contemplating one?  

Are you going through a child custody dispute in court, or contemplating one?   If so, have you heard about a custody evaluation? if not, you'll want to pay particularly close…

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How does employment effect finances in divorce?

Are Couples in which the husband didn’t have a full-time job had a chance of divorcing the following year, compared to couples in which the husband did have a full-time…

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Child refuses to exercise shared custody with the stricter parent

Teenager Child (16) refuses to see me after spending a month with my ex. I have 50% custody. What can I do about it? I'm a stricter parent unlike my…

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Why do people not complain about people who shouldn’t marry?

Why do people complain about the high divorce rate, but don’t complain about people who shouldn’t marry?  There will never be an effective, morally acceptable way to prevent the following…

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When are my ex’s things deemed abandoned?

I was awarded the house in the divorce. My ex’s things are still here and he/she won’t pick them up. When are they deemed abandoned?  Utah Code § 67-4a-201 provides,…

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How can I make my abusive husband divorce me?

Short of holding the proverbial gun to his head (i.e., forcing him to do so against his will), you can’t.   While you might contrive to motivate your husband to file…

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Has anyone ever been able to prove narcissistic abuse in divorce court?

Yes, it happens quite frequently.*   What people don’t understand is that finding a spouse is a jerk usually doesn’t amount to much in the divorce action.   Most people believe—falsely—that if…

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Should I get sole custody of my children if the dad does not want custody?

Should I get sole custody of my children if their dad does not want to be involved with them? Or try to talk it out before I go through with…

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How can I make sure father won’t gain custody?

My husband cheated on me and we're getting a divorce. He begged me not to take his children away, but I want him to suffer. How can I make sure…

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What are the 3 main issues that lead to divorce these days?

Every time you hear about divorce, what are the 3 main issues that lead to divorce these days?  I have been a divorce and family law attorney for 26 years.…

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What are the primary parenting issues of concern by the court?

What are the primary concerns of the courts in determining parenting issues? Why? In Utah (and in no particular order), the court must consider the factors articulated in these sections…

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What can you do if your ex-husband does not want to pay school fees?

What can you do if your husband does not want to pay school fees for his children when you are divorced?  First, it is not necessarily a given that a…

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When do courts value the marital estate?

When do courts value the marital estate? At time of separation, or at the time the court enters the Decree of Divorce?  This is a question that often causes divorcing…

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How do you protect your assets from divorce, lawsuits, etc.?

How do you protect your assets from divorce, government confiscation, lawsuits, garnishments, or seizure?  Best way: own nothing. The government (in all its forms) cannot seize from you that which…

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If you get a divorce but everything is in your name, do you have to split it?

If you get a divorce but everything is in your name, do you get to keep everything or do you have to split it?  I will answer your question in…

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My estranged father keeps asking me for money, what do I do?

My parents are divorced, my father has no savings, he didn't work for the entire period of their marriage, we were estranged for a while and now we are back,…

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Do you think it’s fair for a non-custodial parent to pay more child support?

Do you think it's acceptable for the non-custodial parent to have to pay more child support because the custodial parent chooses to barely work or not work at all?   Generally,…

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How do you win a case against your ex for false accusations?

If you find an attorney who knows a sure-fire, fail-safe way to defend an ex-spouse or an ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend against “false accusations,” that attorney is likely a multimillionaire because possessing such…

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What will the court do if I do not sign a letter sent by my ex-husband?

What will the court do if I do not pick up a letter my ex-husband sent that needs to be signed by me from the courts about his back court ordered alimony…

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Are there experts who can evaluate parental alienation for a custody case?

There are “expert” witnesses for virtually any and every issue in legal actions.  Can judges be bamboozled by pseudo-scientific expert witnesses? Without question.  Do some judges who know that the…

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Can a 16-year-old child choose not to have visitation with a parent?

Technically, no. Practicably/pragmatically, yes.  Technically, a minor child (even a child of 16 years of age) does not have the legal right to choose whether he or she will comply…

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Is it possible to get court transcripts for custody hearings?

Every jurisdiction is different regarding which court hearings are open to the public and whether recordings of their proceedings are available to the public or even to the parties’ themselves. …

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Is it easier to get a divorce if you and your spouse have nothing shared?

Is it easier to get a divorce if you and your spouse have no debts, no shared property, and no children? Typically, generally, usually, yes. In the overwhelming majority of…

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