So I want to ask my dad to divorce my mom.

So I want to ask my dad to divorce my mom. She has a troublesome personality, to say. I'm currently 16 and the relationship between not just me and my…

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Can I gain full custody if I’m bipolar?

I don't want anything to do with my child's father. Can I gain full custody if I'm bipolar?  First, thank you for being so candid and blunt. This is a…

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Does it take time to move on after a midlife divorce?

For most people, generally yes. However one may define “move on,” the longer one is married (especially when the couple has lived together for the duration of the marriage and…

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Would the divorce rate drop if the parties had to see a psychologist first?

What do you think would be the rate of divorce in marriages if psychologists were to be consulted in court by couples before proceeding to see the lawyer for divorce?…

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What are the primary concerns in determining parenting issues? Why?

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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If each parent is fully capable, will the court still give full custody to mom?

If both parents are wonderful, will the court still lean towards full custody to the mother? [Note: I am a divorce lawyer of 25 years. I am not bitter about…

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Can an adult child be sued for helping one parent divorce the other?

Taking your question literally:  Can? Yes.  You can file a lawsuit for any “reason” or no reason at all. Crazy and/or malicious people file crazy/malicious/frivolous/unintelligible lawsuits all the time.  Just…

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What is the brutal truth about a third marriage?

That it is likely going to end in divorce.  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-intelligent-divorce/201202/the-high-failure-rate-second-and-third-marriages  Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277   https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-brutal-truth-about-a-third-marriage/answer/Eric-Johnson-311?prompt_topic_bio=1 

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How do I get a quick, cheap divorce?

Easiest way up front, but usually most foolish, most financially and psychologically expensive in the long term: give your spouse whatever he she wants/demands (while it is possible for your…

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Is staying with parents during pregnancy grounds for filing for divorce?

You don't have to come up with creative reasons for getting a divorce anymore in the age of no-fault divorce (in the U.S.A.).  You don't have to find a reason…

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Is there anything that can surprise a judge during a divorce proceeding?

Is there anything that can surprise a judge during a contested divorce proceeding?   Of course.   We’ve all read about cases where all of the circumstantial evidence indicated the defendant is…

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Can you get a post-judgment interest rate higher than the statutory rate?

Did you know you can request a post-judgment interest rate that is higher than the default statutory rate?  It’s true.   While the court does not have the discretion to lower,…

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Why would a father give a child’s abusive mother full custody?

Why would a father whose attorney had outed his children's mother as a schizophrenogenic narc monster give her full custody?  “Give?”  If the father had it within his power to…

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Do both parties have to sign the paperwork for a divorce to be granted?

Do both parties have to sign divorce paperwork in order for a divorce to be granted? It is possible in many jurisdictions (Utah being one of them; if you are not…

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Nix v. Nix – 2022 UT App 83- insufficient evidence of adultery

2022 UT App 83 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JILL NIX, Appellee, v. ROLAND COMPTON NIX JR., Appellant. Opinion No. 20200691-CA Filed June 30, 2022 Fourth District Court, Provo Department…

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Can a non-custodial parent claim the child tax credit?

Yes, and the IRS has provided this summary (among other publications) to show non-custodial parents how:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4449.pdf  Here is an excerpt from that IRS publication:  Claiming Your Child as a…

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I signed a CPS safety plan but the court orders protective supervision.

What happens if I signed a CPS safety plan but the court orders protective supervision?  The court’s order supersedes the agreement.  Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277   https://www.quora.com/What-happens-if-I-signed-a-CPS-safety-plan-but-the-court-orders-protective-supervision/answer/Eric-Johnson-311  …

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How do you win financially in a divorce?

It depends upon what you mean by “win financially.” Man divorcing people define this term differently, and the differences are extreme.   Some people define "winning financially" as:  coming away from…

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How does someone take custody of a child after winning custody?

When someone wins custody of a child, does the child come to the courthouse to be taken by whoever is awarded custody or do they go to the home of…

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True or false: Better to divorce than have a miserable life.

This blog post is in response to this question:  I don't think it's bad to get a divorce. I think it's more unhealthy to have miserable lives. — Ginger Wynn.…

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Why do people get married only to divorce a few years later?

Why do people get married only to divorce a few years later? Doesn't really sound like love to me.  With the exception of those divorces that take place shortly after…

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How should the child support payment system in the U.S. be changed?

How should the child support payment system in the U.S. be changed to make it more fair?  What is unfair about child support for the child support payor (also known…

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How can I reveal my soon-to-be ex as having NPD in our custody case?

How can I reveal my soon-to-be ex as having NPD in our child custody case? You're asking the wrong question. You shouldn't be asking how you can prove your spouse…

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How would my fiancé go about getting any sort of custody for his child?

That is an extremely broad question. The best way to start: find a good domestic relations lawyer (a good one, not just any) and schedule a consultation with him/her so…

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Is the percentage of married people getting a divorce still about 50%?

Is the percentage of married people getting a divorce still about 50%, or is it now higher? It’s actually a bit less than 50% currently and for the past few years. This…

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How do I stop being afraid of divorcing?

How do I stop being afraid of divorcing? I’m so scared. I’ve been a stay-at-home mother for 18 years. I have health issues. I don’t know if I can provide…

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Duffin v. Duffin – 2022 UT App 60

2022 UT App 60 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JAMES M. DUFFIN III, Appellee and Cross-appellant, v. BRANDY E. DUFFIN, Appellant and Cross-appellee. Opinion No. 20200361-CA Filed May 12, 2022 Third District Court, West Jordan Department…

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Beckham v. Beckham, 2022 UT App 65

2022 UT App 65 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS VICKI BECKHAM, Appellee, v. RANDALL BECKHAM, Appellant. Opinion No. 20200935-CA Filed May 19, 2022 Third District Court, Salt Lake Department The…

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What will the court do if I do not pick up a letter my ex husband sent?

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…

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How can I help my stepdaughter get away from an abusive mother?

How can I help my 12-year-old step daughter get away from an emotionally abusive mother?  Tell the child’s father (your husband) about the trouble and have him handle it. It’s…

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Is it wrong for a parent to go to their adult child for emotional support?

Is it wrong for a parent to go to their adult child for emotional support concerning the parent’s marriage? I am a divorce and family lawyer and a parent, but…

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How will it affect children to switch schools every other school year?

How will it affect children to switch back and forth to schools every other school year due to child custody agreement between parents who live in different states?  Probably not…

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If both parents are wonderful, will the court still favor the mother?

If both parents are wonderful, will the court still lean towards full custody to the mother? [Note: I am a divorce lawyer of 25 years. I am not bitter about…

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Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 44: Mountains

By Quinton Lister, legal assistant  One prominent geographical feature of Utah (where I am a legal assistant for a divorce attorney) is the mountains that surround the cities and towns…

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What should the child support award be if my ex makes $1,200 per week?

Should I be receiving more than $300 a month in child support if my ex-husband makes $1,200 per week?  Each jurisdiction has different child support laws and rules, but I…

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What if your client gets custody when they should not have, due to you?

What should you do if you represented a client in a divorce who should not have gotten the kids, but got them due to your ability?  We have a word…

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