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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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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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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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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How difficult is it to get a divorce from a spouse who has disappeared?

How difficult is it to get a divorce from a spouse who disappeared +10 years back? No note, no trace, no explanation. If you urgently need to remarry, what processes…

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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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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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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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Fox v. Fox 2022 UT App 88 – alimony

Fox v. Fox 2022 UT App 88 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DIANN SHERI FOX, Appellant, v. BENJAMIN DAVIS FOX, Appellee. Opinion No. 20200949-CA Filed July 14, 2022 Fifth District…

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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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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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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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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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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 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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What will happen if the child refuses to go with the custodial parent?

What will happen if the court ruled in favor of a mother to have the custody of her child but the child refuses to go with her and she prefers…

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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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Horne v. Horne – 2022 UT App 54 – 60(b) motion to set aside

2022 UT App 54 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS REBECCA A. HORNE, Appellee, v. TODD D. HORNE, Appellant. Opinion No. 20200845-CA Filed April 28, 2022 Third District Court, Salt Lake…

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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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What are the chances of a mother getting full custody?

In my experienced opinion:  If the fight is over which parent will be awarded sole (full) custody of the children, and if no other factors are considered: the chances of…

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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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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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Can a parent take kids out of state while divorce is pending?

Can a parent who has filed for divorce and moved out with her 2 children now take her children for a week to another state for Thanksgiving, or will it be…

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I’m 14 and my mom is making me live with my dad. How do I stop this?

I'm 14 and my mom is making me live with my dad and is giving him custody. What can I do to prevent this from happening?  I’m a divorce and…

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Why isn’t 50/50 custody the default resolution in child custody cases?

I have studied this question throughout my career, and I've been a divorce and family lawyer for 25 years. If there is one family law question to which I know…

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In a divorce, should children live with their favorite parent?

I can’t speak for all jurisdictions, but I can tell you that in the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and family law (Utah), currently the child’s preference for one parent…

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Twitchell v. Twitchell – 2022 UT App 49 – child custody and support

Twitchell v. Twitchell - 2022 UT App 49 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JAZMIN S. TWITCHELL, Appellee, V. JOSEPH N. TWITCHELL, Appellant. Opinion No. 20200546-CA Filed April 14, 2022 First…

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Is it damaging for a child to witness a divorce/parents fighting constantly?

Is it damaging for a child to witness a divorce or witness their parents fighting constantly? Yes.  Yes, of course.  Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277   https://www.quora.com/Is-it-damaging-for-a-child-to-witness-a-divorce-or-witness-their-parents-fighting-constantly/answer/Eric-Johnson-311 

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Widdison v. Widdison – 2022 UT App 46 – custody modification

Widdison v. Widdison - 2022 UT App 46   THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS  NICOLE WIDDISON, Appellant,  LEON BRYANT WIDDISON,  Appellee.  Opinion  No. 20200484-CA  Filed April 7, 2022  Third District…

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Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 39: Judges, part III

By Quinton Lister, legal assistant  For those following along at home, you are aware that I have posted about judges before. Through the course of my current employment as a…

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Why is the Divorce Rate Higher than Ever?

First, the divorce rate is not currently higher than ever. It has been higher in the past. Unfortunately, the reason the divorce rate is declining is likely because fewer people…

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