Who would you believe more in a court case: a person who admits to his/her faults, who honestly discloses all of his/her relevant information (even the information that hurts his/her…
I’m just at the beginning stages of a divorce case, but already in the thick of it. My spouse tells me she is going to have her lawyer file a…
There is more than one question to answer here. First, does a parent have the unilateral power simply to “give up” his or her parental rights (and accompanying obligations)? No. The…
I have noticed three chronic problems with clients in just the few weeks I have been working as a legal assistant. 1) Most clients seem to have an almost allergic…
How one writes in the legal world and how one writes in the world of creative are both very similar and very different. When I became a legal assistant, I thought…
There are two kinds of child custody, not just one. Those two different kinds are legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody is the power of a parent to make…
Because divorce is not about a spouse (man or woman) getting “half of everything”. Depending upon whether a state is a “community property” state or an “equitable distribution” state, here…
I have finished my first week as a legal assistant. In that time, I have been to a few court proceedings. Previous to taking this job as a legal assistant,…
The first thing you should know is that I am a writer. I have authored some short stories and some other things you haven’t heard of. I have been a…
I love Quora for being a place to ask, answer, and discuss virtually any question. If you are looking for candid, clear answers to questions and honest discussion about Utah…
I cannot answer this question as it applies in all jurisdictions because I am not licensed in all jurisdictions, but I can answer this question at that applies in the…
High quality and high price are not the same thing The definitions of a high-quality lawyer and a merely high-priced lawyer are different. A high-quality lawyer is a lawyer who is…
Lawyers are officers of the court. That means that while a lawyer clearly has a duty to his or her client, a lawyer’s first duty is not to the client,…
This is a great question because it is so basic, yet so important. These are the kinds of questions a client needs to have answered understood before he or she…
I am frequently asked questions about my flat fee billing. I bill on a weekly flat fee basis. Usually $500 per week, although the weekly fee can be higher if…
Can you? Meaning: is it possible? Of course it’s possible. Likely? That depends. I had written over 500 words in my first draft of the answer to this question when…
Not likely. Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019) defines conflict of interest as: A real or seeming incompatibility between the interests of two of a lawyer's clients, such that the…
The better question is: Do SOME family law attorneys typically play along with unreasonable client demands? The answer is, unequivocally, yes: some family law attorneys typically play along with unreasonable…
What advice would you give to someone who has just become one of the parties in a divorce proceeding? #1. Know this: divorce law and the divorce process are almost…
Would it be better to botch my hair follicle test so it reads nothing, or allow the judge and the world to see what I've been doing the last 6…
Do attorneys ever have to represent relatives or is that a conflict of interest? I will give my personal opinion (as a lawyer, but not as a lawyer giving anyone…
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…
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…
I have yet to see the best of the best lawyers advertise, and the most likely explanation is that they don’t advertise because they don’t need to advertise. But if…
This blog is in response to a comment made to a video entitled How much should you trust your lawyer? “The biggest problem I've encountered with attorneys isn't legal competence…
The more power to be entrusted, the higher the stakes, the less I trust anyone under such conditions. Many of us find or will find ourselves in a situation where…
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…
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…
What are two lines of work that fit together well? For example, a remodeling contractor and a divorce lawyer. I do not believe a lawyer or client would really want…
Is there anything illegal about a previous lawyer wanting to charge their ex client for a copy of their case file? I can’t answer for all jurisdictions, but in Utah…
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…
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?…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant Well, I made it. There was no real worry that I could not do it, but being a legal assistant is not an easy job…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 51: Should you be a legal assistant? By Quinton Lister, legal assistant One question you might be asking yourself if you…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant It has been almost a year since I have started working as a legal assistant to my boss, attorney Eric Johnson. I have learned so…
What is the proper language to request a change of the child custody order in family law court? What you want to accomplish is not the kind of thing that…
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…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 48: Personal Statement for Law School By Quinton Lister, legal assistant My time as a legal assistant to attorney Eric Johnson…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant One thing my boss, attorney Eric Johnson, has told me that has had an impact on my view of law is the idea that law…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 46: Simplify, but do so Elegantly By Quinton Lister, legal assistant As a legal assistant to a divorce attorney, I find…
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…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant I work for a divorce attorney, but I am not pro divorce. I understand that if there were no divorces I would be “out of…
What should I say to my lawyer who told me that a motion to dismiss isn't really a thing so we cannot file one? It may be that a motion…
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…
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…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant One thing that I have noticed in my time as a legal assistant to a divorce attorney is that most law offices are difficult to…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 42: Do you like divorce law? By Quinton Lister, legal assistant Often when I tell people I know that I am…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 40: Recording family law hearings By Quinton Lister, legal assistant My time as a legal assistant to a divorce and family…
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…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant Last week I wrote a post about Arb-med and how it can benefit practitioners of law, particularly family law. In this post I will be…
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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