Recent thoughts about family law

Recent thoughts about family law I’ve been prompted recently to express my thoughts and opinions about the judiciary generally in the family law context. Here are a few thoughts I…

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Does a spouse have the right to see a DUI report?

Does a spouse have the right to see a DUI report? First, if you are referring to a police report of a DUI citation and/or arrest, in most jurisdictions such…

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If an ex uses illness to stop working, can she get more alimony?

If an ex uses illness to stop working, can she get more alimony? Can being debilitated by illness be a reason for a spouse receiving alimony or more alimony than…

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How do I console a father who has lost custody of his child?

How do I console a father who has lost custody of his child? “He’s [the father who lost custody] permanently damaged.” That’s what someone else wrote in response to your…

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Why is child support and alimony rooted in revenge, power, and humiliation?

Why is child support and alimony rooted in revenge, power, and humiliation? The full question was actually: "Why is child support and alimony rooted in revenge, power, control, and humiliation over…

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If an ex uses illness to stop working, can she get more alimony?

If an ex uses illness to stop working, can she get more alimony? Can being debilitated by illness be a reason for a spouse receiving alimony or more alimony than…

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Good news, for parents deserving of joint equal physical custody

Good news, apparently, for parents deserving of joint equal physical custody of their children but who have, up until now, been fighting an unfair, unnecessarily uphill battle. The Utah Legislature passed,…

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Can a mother lose custody even if the child is still very young?

Can a mother lose custody even if the child is still very young? Are there any situations where a mother can lose custody even if their child is still very…

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How do lawyers drag out court cases?

How do lawyers drag out court cases? In some respects, the ways are limited only by the power of one’s imagination, but the most common ways I have experienced in…

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Should I pay my lawyer to talk to the attorney of the other party? He spent 3 hours last week responding to 12 emails from the other lawyer and I need to pay him for this time. At this rate I my lawyer will become a secretary and I will be bankrupt.

Should I pay my lawyer to talk to the attorney of the other party? He spent 3 hours last week responding to 12 emails from the other lawyer and I…

Continue ReadingShould I pay my lawyer to talk to the attorney of the other party? He spent 3 hours last week responding to 12 emails from the other lawyer and I need to pay him for this time. At this rate I my lawyer will become a secretary and I will be bankrupt.

What policies and factors determine how child support is calculated?

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…

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Why do I pay child support if we have joint custody and we both work?

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…

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Do parents who share joint equal custody pay child support?

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…

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Do lawyers ever regret helping a client or obtaining a particular judgment?

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…

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S.B. 122 just passed! So what? Joint equal physical custody.

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…

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In court cases, how does taking an oath make any difference?

In court cases, how does taking an oath make any difference? From what I can tell, yes, it appears that taking an oath or affirming to tell the truth before…

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I was divorced and lied to during my divorce and I am disabled can I take my ex back to court for spousal support?

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…

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Why is it difficult for a father to get child custody?

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…

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If I can’t find an attorney, can it honestly be said I got a fair trial?

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…

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Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court?

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?…

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What are the Steps for Getting Divorced in Utah?

What are the Steps for Getting Divorced in Utah? To start the divorce process, you must begin by filing what is called a complaint or a petition for divorce with…

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2020 UT App 171 – Miller v. Miller THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS RYAN MILLER, Appellant, v. BRENDA MILLER, Appellee

2020 UT App 171 - Miller v. Miller THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS RYAN MILLER, Appellant, BRENDA MILLER, Appellee. Opinion No. 20190748-CA Filed December 24, 2020 Second District Court, Farmington…

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How is it possible that people go bankrupt during divorce in the USA? Isn’t it a 50/50 split?

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…

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Believing Judges Interviewing Children Harms Children Rests on False Premises

This post is the eighth in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment of guardians ad litem (“GALs” for short) in Utah child custody…

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Does having the judge interview the children traumatize the children?

Does having the judge interview the children traumatize the children?   This post is the second in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment…

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What are some things that profitable attorneys do differently?

What are some things that profitable attorneys do differently? One thing that many do: sell false hope. Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277 https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-things-that-profitable-attorneys-do-differently/answer/Eric-Johnson-311  

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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.)?

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…

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Does a Restraining Order Prevent Me from Communicating with the School?

Does a Restraining Order Prevent Me from Communicating with the School? If a school age child has a restraining order against a parent prohibiting him from coming within a certain…

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Utah Divorce Case Timeline Summary

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…

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Brown v. Brown – 2020 UT App 146 – marital vs. non-marital assets

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…

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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,…

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What advice would you give me before divorce, if I’m not in the wrong?

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…

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How can I choose which of my parents gets custody of me?

How can I choose which of my parents gets custody of me? In Utah, a child can’t choose. At least not anymore. Under current Utah law, children do not get…

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What does it take to get the court to award custody to the father?

What does it take to get the court to award custody to the father? Either: A) a miracle or B) the mother has to be so clearly an unfit parent…

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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…

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“It’s pretty awful, but do you have a better alternative?”

“It’s pretty awful, but do you have a better alternative?” I was asked the following question in response to this answer I gave to a question on Quora.com: https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-dirty-secrets-a-lawyer-wishes-they-could-tell-us-but-can-t/answer/Eric-Johnson-311 Here…

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I hired an attorney. I’m so scared how my ex will react.

How can I calm my nerves? I hired an attorney to help with my child custody case against my BPD ex. I’m so scared of what he will do when…

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For divorced parents: why isn’t your custody award 50/50?

For divorced parents: why isn't your custody award 50/50? Concisely (and in no particular order): sometimes a parent’s job, physical or mental/emotional disabilities, misconduct (like domestic violence, child abuse, or…

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Is being a divorce lawyer miserable?

Is being a divorce lawyer miserable? Miserable? Can be (and is) for some divorce attorneys, but for me it’s chronically discouraging. Sure, the human pain and betrayal to which we are…

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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…

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Should we award custody to the parent who is a lower risk for COVID-19?

Should we award custody to the parent who is a lower risk for COVID-19? Is it reasonable to give custody to the parent who is a lower health risk to…

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2020 UT App 34 – Petrzelka v. Goodwin – alimony, income, retirement funds

2020 UT App 34 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS PEGGY PETRZELKA, Appellee, v. JAMES E. GOODWIN, Appellant. Opinion No. 20180923-CA Filed March 5, 2020 First District Court, Logan Department The…

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Divorce and your mortgage: what to know (guest post)

Divorce and your mortgage: what to know (guest post) “Deciding how to deal with the family home is one of the most important issues to decide upon when there is…

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2019 UT App 207 – Peeples v. Peeples – modification of child custody

2019 UT App 207 - THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS ADAM LEGRANDE PEEPLES, Appellee, v. ANNALEISE T. PEEPLES, Appellant. Opinion No. 20180713-CA Filed December 19, 2019 Third District Court, Salt…

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