How Do I Reconnect After Marriage Separation?
Believing that change is inevitable, normal, and survivable. Jonny Thomson made this reel on his Facebook page, “Mini Philosophy,” which I think answers your question about as well as it…
Divorce and Revenge, by Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant.
People divorce for many different reasons, but regardless of the reason or reasons for seeking a divorce, the dissolution of a marriage and the breakup of a family usually causes…
In Divorce Cases, Does Family Court Usually Favor Mothers?
Yes. Anyone who denies this fact is lying to you. This does not mean that fathers cannot get a fair shake in child custody cases; they can, but most fathers…
How to Pronounce Certiorari and What It Means.
Today’s question comes from a viewer of the UFTLV channel who wants to know not only what this term means, but how it is properly pronounced! First, the definition: an…
What Paperwork Must I Complete in Family Court to Modify a Utah Child Custody Order?
DIY litigation is difficult in almost every situation. Divorce and family law is no different. You will likely save time and money by hiring a good (a good) attorney in…
What Are Some Strategies for Divorcing a Selfish, Intelligent, and Manipulative Person Without It Becoming a Messy Legal and Emotional Battle?
Spouses of selfish, intelligent, and manipulative people who want to avoid a messy legal and emotional battle are not telling the whole truth about what they want. Implicit in what…
What Are the Key Things You Should Do Protect Yourself During a Divorce?
This is one of the most important questions you need to ask and to answer if you are contemplating divorce or find yourself on the receiving end of a complaint…
I Have a Question About Whether to Divorce.
I decided to divorce my husband of 10 years after years of neglect and feeling unloved. We have a 6-year-old daughter. For the majority of our marriage I was always…
When Should You Settle Your Divorce Case? By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant
Over the course of your divorce, you may be tempted to throw in the towel and give up. You may also be tempted to fight to your last breath. Either…
Why Is My Narc Husband Angry When We Discuss Selling the House When We Are Headed for Divorce?
First, for those of you who don’t know what a “narc” is, let’s address that. A “narc” in this context is a narcissistic spouse. Click here for a more detailed…
My Husband Left Me and Our Kids. How Long Should I Wait Before I File for a Divorce?
You’re asking the wrong question first. Your first question should not be, “How long should I wait before I file for a divorce?,” but “*Should* I even file for a…
THE BEST PERSON TO “SPEAK FOR A CHILD” IS THE CHILD HIMSELF/HERSELF, NOT A GUARDIAN AD LITEM
“Speak your mind—even if your voice shakes. . . . When you least expect it, someone may actually listen to what you have to say.” — Maggie Kuhn I have…
Two Reforms (Of Many) That I Suggest Are Likely Not What You Think They Would Be.
In my opinion (as a divorce and family law attorney for the past 27 years), a “less is more” approach is needed at this point. What do I mean? For…
Should You Sling Mud at Your Spouse at Any Phase of Your Divorce Case? By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant
If you were not fortunate enough to settle your divorce case on acceptable terms, you now or soon will likely find yourself preparing for trial. Trial will be the day(s)…
If I Got Married Today and My Husband Moved Into My House, if We Get Divorced in 5 Years, Will I Have to Give Him 50% of My House?
Great question (the answer will likely scare you and drive you nuts, but it’s a great question). Divorce court is, in many respects, the wild west. No matter what jurisdiction…
How Does the Divorce Process Begin?
The legal process of initiating a divorce begins (in the U.S.A.) with filing a lawsuit. A divorce action is a legal action filed in court, just as a lawsuit for…
In re R.P. – 2024 UT App 106 – Appeal of Paternity Order
In re R.P. - 2024 UT App 106 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF R.P., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. K.J., Appellant,…
Can My Custody and Parent-Time Order Be”Redone” Because I Was a Vulnerable Adult (My Mental Health Was Suffering) at the Time the Orders of Child Custody and Parent-Time Were Made? I Didn’t Attend the Court Hearing (I Know), but the Entire Thing Unfair to Both the Children and Me.
There is a case in Utah that may almost precisely be on point for the circumstances you describe, Hogge v. Hogge, 649 P.2d 51, 54 (Supreme Court of Utah 1982). Here…
How Does the Divorce Process Begin?
The legal process of initiating a divorce begins (in the U.S.A.) with filing a lawsuit. A divorce action is a legal action filed in court, just as a lawsuit for…
In re K.B – 2024 UT App 114 – Termination of Parental Rights
In re K.B - 2024 UT App 114 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.B., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. M.B., Appellant, v.…
Harris v. Hunt – 2024 UT App 117 – Civil Stalking Injunction
Harris v. Hunt - 2024 UT App 117 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DALE HARRIS, Appellee, v. JUSTIN HUNT, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230753-CA Filed August 15, 2024 Fifth District Court,…
Dividing Personal Property In Your Divorce Is Not As Hard As It Seems By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant
During the course of a marriage, you will accumulate marital property, and during your divorce, you will need to divide those items. You may be tempted to bicker over every…
2024 UT App 104 – In re B.D. – What is a dependent child?
2024 UT App 104 - In re B.D. THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF B.D., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. N.D., Appellant,…
Kinsey v. Kinsey – 2024 UT App 120 – Termination of Alimony
Kinsey v. Kinsey - 2024 UT App 120 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JULIE KINSEY, Appellee, v. GLEN D. KINSEY, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230088-CA Filed August 22, 2024 Third District…
Is It Time to Recognize “Semi-cohabitation” as a Basis for at Least Reducing the Alimony Award?
Currently in Utah, alimony, the Utah Code provides, at § 30-3-5(11)(a), which will, effective September 1, 2024, be renumbered as § 81-4-504(1), as follows: (11)(a) The court has continuing jurisdiction…
Kinsey v. Kinsey – 2024 UT App 120 – termination of alimony
Kinsey v. Kinsey - 2024 UT App 120 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JULIE KINSEY, Appellee, v. GLEN D. KINSEY, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230088-CA Filed August 22, 2024 Third District…
How to Fill Out Your Financial Declaration, Paragraph 6. By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant
Paragraph 6 of your financial declaration addresses your after-tax income. Your after-tax income is a simple calculation. Take your gross monthly income (calculated in paragraph 4) and subtract your monthly…
How Do You Enforce Court Orders That Have Been Issued in a Utah Divorce Case or Child Custody Case?
Many people who have gone through a divorce case or unmarried parents who have gone through a child custody case find themselves at the end of the case with a…
What Are Some Reasons Why Someone Might Choose to Stay in an Unhappy Marriage Instead of Getting a Divorce, Even if They Have Children and Are Concerned About the Cost?
There are literally thousands of lists you can find online that do an excellent job of identifying the reasons accurately, clearly, and concisely. I recommend that you find them and…
What Do Judges Like and Not Like to Hear at Custody Hearings With High Conflict Parents Who Will Not Agree on Custody Terms?
Many attorneys and parents who have been through child custody and parent time disputes before will give you some basic and sound advice; specifically, 1) ensure that your arguments have…
Parental Estrangement and Parental Alienation and Parental Estrangement Are Not the Same Thing By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant.
During a divorce case, one parent or the other often claims that parental alienation or parental estrangement is occurring. Whether the claim is true does not stop these terms from…
How to Fill Out Your Financial Declaration, Paragraph Five. By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant
Paragraph five of your financial declaration is about the amount of taxes on your monthly income that you pay per month (or what the average monthly deduction from your income…
Can’t I Claim an Offset or Credit for the Children’s Other Expenses That I’ve Paid?
My ex-spouse is the primary custodial parent, and I am ordered to pay child support. My ex wastes child support money and/or doesn't spend it on the needs of our…
My Ex and I Have Joint Custody, but He Hasn’t Been Letting Me See My Child for a Couple of Months Now. Will He Lose Custody if I Go Back to Court and Tell Them About This?
I’ll assume that what you mean by “my ex and I have joint custody” is you and your ex share physical custody of your child. I’ll also assume that in…
Can What I Post on Social Media Be Used Against Me in a Divorce Case?
Yes. Yes, it can. This does not mean that everything you post on social media will be used against you. Some statements on social media are pretty hard to find fault…
What About My Children? Can They Use Social Media During My Divorce?
Unless the law of your jurisdiction or a court order in your particular case prohibits your children from viewing or posting on social media during the pendency of the divorce…
My Spouse Refuses Divorce but I Need to Be Divorced. My Spouse Says He/She Will Make My Life and the Kids’ Life Hell if I Leave. I Don’t Want to Spend a Fortune on a Lawyer.
Are you a churchgoer? Are you a member of a church? If so, your church may have resources available to members to help them with various legal concerns or problems.…
How Should a Father Respond if His Child Tells Him They Are Getting Divorced?
Honestly and sensitively. This is likely going to be a discussion this child remembers for the rest of his/her life, a parent in this position will need to choose his/her…
If My Ex Husband Had a Secret Bank Account Before We Were Married, Would I Be Entitled to Some of It After the Divorce? I Already Have a Private Investigator Looking Into It. Thanks in Advance!
This is an area where the laws differ substantially from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. To know what options may be available to you in your jurisdiction, you need to consult with…
If Someone Is Caught Breaking a Protection Order and They Go to Court for That Can the Person Who Needed the P.O. Go to Court to Speak out About the Violation?
Yes, but it depends upon what you mean by “can the person who needed the P.O. go to court to speak out about the violation?” If the person who needed…
How Difficult Would It Be to Get Legal Custody Back After Willingly Giving 100% Legal Custody to My Child’s Mother?
In Utah, if you have not had your parental rights terminated, but instead you simply agreed to your child’s parent having custody of the child (with you having little to no…
How to Fill Out Your Financial Declaration, Paragraph Four. By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant
Paragraph four of your financial declaration deals with your gross monthly income. Your gross monthly income is your income from all sources. This includes, your income from employment, your work,…
What Is Dissipation of Marital Assets? How Is It Addressed in Utah Divorce Actions?
We’ll start with this: The marital estate is generally valued at the time of the divorce decree or trial. Goggin v. Goggin, 2013 UT 16, ¶ 49, 299 P.3d 1079. The…
I Want to Divorce but I Have a Kid and I Have Nowhere to Go. What Can I Do? We Are From Different Countries, and We Got Married in His Country. I Left My Family and Friends Come To Join Him.
I don’t know in what country you reside, but if you can safely consult with a divorce attorney there, you need to start your research into whether a realistic path…
Is it possible for a husband to set conditions for getting back together after a separation or divorce, even if the divorce has already been filed?
This question is best answered in two parts. Can a husband dictate what his wife “must do” to reconcile with him? Obviously he cannot. Reconciliation is a mutual decision. Even…
How to Fill Out Your Financial Declaration, Paragraph Two. By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant
Paragraph two of your financial declaration details the documents that you must attach to your financial declaration (unless they don't exist). It is not optional; they are the documents you are required…
Lessons for Protective Order Respondents from the case of State v. Lewis (2024 UT App 96)
On July 11, 2024, the Utah Court of Appeals issued its decision in the case of State v. Lewis (2024 UT App 96). The appellant, Kevin Lewis (Kevin), appealed his conviction for…
What do I have to do to modify the child custody and/or parent-time award?
“I want more time with my children.” “Our children want to spend more time with me.” “My ex-spouse does not exercise the time he/she was awarded with our children.” What…
Thorup v. Thorup – 2024 UT App 93
Thorup v. Thorup - 2024 UT App 93 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS MONA THORUP, Appellee, v. MARCUS THORUP, Appellant. Opinion No. 20220583-CA Filed July 5, 2024 Third District Court, Salt…
2024 UT App 91 – In re R.D. – Juvenile Court Jurisdiction – Parental Presumption
2024 UT App 91 – In re R.D. THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS IN THE INTEREST OF R.D. AND Z.J., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. K.J., Appellant, v. N.J.…
