I Have a Court Date Coming Up, but I Don’t Speak English (Or Don’t Speak or Understand It Well). What Can I Do?

Did you know that if you are not fluent in English and have a court date coming up, the court will provide you with an interpreter IF you make the…

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How to Fill Out Your Financial Declaration, Paragraph One. By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

If you find yourself involved in a Utah divorce action (whether child support will be an issue or not) or an action over the support of minor children in Utah…

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If I Agreed to Sign up a Prenup With My Billionaire Husband Does That Mean I Would Not Get Anything Not Even a Dollar?

I can’t speak to what the law governing prenuptial agreements is in any jurisdiction other than the one in which I practice divorce and family law (Utah), but as to…

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Taking Your Divorce Case to Trial Requires Just as Much from You as It Does of Your Lawyer, By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

Taking your divorce case to trial is almost always a long, complicated, and emotionally exhausting process. You may be tempted to believe you can leave all of the work to…

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If Your Husband Files for Divorce, Can He Ask You to Leave the House Immediately?

I can't speak for the law in all jurisdictions, but I can tell you what the law is where I practice divorce law (Utah). Can your spouse ask you to…

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People Who Are Getting an Extremely-Contested Divorce W/O Paying for Lawyers, Need Step-By-Step Directions in Their State! If There Were Uncontested Divorces, There Would Be No Divorces at All, Because Both Partners Would Be Getting Along Perfectly?

Sure, they need that. It is a great idea. Where there is a demand to be filled, markets arise to fill them. It would be a great benefit to people…

Continue ReadingPeople Who Are Getting an Extremely-Contested Divorce W/O Paying for Lawyers, Need Step-By-Step Directions in Their State! If There Were Uncontested Divorces, There Would Be No Divorces at All, Because Both Partners Would Be Getting Along Perfectly?

Do You Lose Parental Rights Automatically When You Get Divorced if You Do Not File for Visitation or Custody?

Make sure you understand the terms you and others may be using in asking and discussing this question. If you are a parent of minor children, and you are involved…

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I Want to Live with My Mom but I Have Shared Custody With My Dad. What Do I Do? Can I at 15?

This question is literally asked on a daily basis. It comes up so often. But that means it’s a burning question. I’ll bet it has been answered literally at least…

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Are You Fighting for Your Kids or Are You Protecting Your Financial Future? By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

An accusation that gets thrown around a lot in a divorce action is that a parent doesn’t actually want to spend time with his or her children. Usually it's an…

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What Can Be Done if a Prenuptial Agreement Does Not Meet the Requirements for Validity in Your State? What Are the Available Options for Handling This Situation?

While I am a divorce and family lawyer (licensed in Utah), I do not claim to be an expert on the subject of prenuptial agreements. That stated (and acknowledging that…

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How Often Do Mothers Get Full Custody of Their Children After Divorce?

Always? No. Frequently? Yes. Usually. Yes. Whether they deserve it or not? Usually, yes. Are mothers awarded custody of children as much as they used to be a generation or…

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Wilson v. Wilson, 2024 UT App 87 – civil stalking injunction, appeals

Wilson v. Wilson - 2024 UT App 87 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS TKS CO-PACK MANUFACTURING, LLC AND TROY WILSON, Appellants and Cross-appellees, v. DOUG WILSON, Appellee and Cross-appellant. Opinion…

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Holding Marital Property Hostage During a Divorce Just Makes You Look Petty By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

You may have the idea that you can leverage his or her favorite or most valued things to get a more favorable outcome in your divorce. Holding property that rightfully…

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Your Divorce Lawyer is Serious About Deadlines By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

Throughout the divorce process you will have to meet many deadlines. The court will even provide you with a list of due dates known as a notice of event due…

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What Should I Do if My Divorce Is Not Getting Solved Quickly?

This is a great question. Go find a good (a good, not just any) retired divorce attorney (a divorce attorney, not some other kind of attorney who has no idea…

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On What Basis Should the Couple Share Half of Property in Divorce if One Contributes Significantly More Than the Other? How Is It Fair?

It’s fair. It’s not fair. Frankly, reasonable minds can differ on this question. The governing principle in the USA is still (though it’s subtly and slowly changing) in most jurisdictions…

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What Do We Do When Equal (50/50) Physical Custody Is Awarded but One Parent Isn’t Bearing the Responsibilities Equal Custody Requires of That Parent?

Recently a Quora.com reader commented on my answer to this question: Is there a primary parent in joint custody in Utah which is also known as “equal” or “50/50” custody? They…

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What Can I Do if My Ex Doesn’t Let My Daughter Come for My Parenting Time Which Is Summer? Our Divorce Is Not Finalized Yet.

I can give you my personal opinion (not legal advice, but my personal opinion) from my perspective as a lawyer licensed in Utah and who practices divorce and family law…

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Elder v. Elder – 2024 UT App 68 – enforcement vs. modification

Elder v. Elder - 2024 UT App 68 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS BRITTANY LEE ELDER, Appellee, v. MATT BLAKE ELDER, Appellant. Opinion No. 20210902-CA Filed May 9, 2024 Second…

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What Would Happen if One Parent Does Not Bring Their Child for a Utah Court-Ordered Custody Exchange?

First, we need to learn and understand the term for violating a court order. That term is “contempt of court.” In Utah, one commits contempt of court in a civil…

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In re Adoption of P.P. – 2024 UT App 62 – ineffective assistance of counsel – adoption

In re Adoption of P.P. - 2024 UT App 62 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF P.P., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…

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What Are the Options for Someone Who Has Been Served Divorce Papers by Their Spouse Who Has Moved Away and No Longer Wants to Be With Them?

If you want to know your options and have the time to exercise them, then you need to meet with an attorney immediately to find out what the law requires of you,…

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Kouri Richins’ Defense Files a Motion to Disqualify Prosecution, Alleging That Her 6th Amendment Rights Were Violated.

According to KUTV, Kouri Richins' defense filed a motion on Friday, May 17, to disqualify the prosecution from the case. To read more about this, click on this link: https://kutv.com/news/local/kouri-richins-defense-skye-lazaro-ray-quinney-nebeker-files-motions-disqualify-prosecution-brad-bloodworth-eric-richins

Continue ReadingKouri Richins’ Defense Files a Motion to Disqualify Prosecution, Alleging That Her 6th Amendment Rights Were Violated.

Second-Hand Testimony Is and Never Will Be Better Than the Witness’s Own Testimony in His/Her Own Voice

For lawyers and parents (and perhaps even commissioners and judges) who hate child custody determinations (temporary or otherwise) based upon proffer, I share this with you: This court has previously…

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My Husband Is Forcing Me to Get My Inheritance From Court From My Ex-husband’s (Deceased) Brothers Otherwise He Will Divorce Me. What Should I Do?

Talk to a good (a good) lawyer about whether you even have the right to “inherit” from your ex-husband’s brothers. Unless there are bizarre circumstances at work here, odds are…

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2024 UT App 54 – Tilleman v. Tilleman – custody factors, income, fees

2024 UT App 54 - Tilleman v. Tilleman THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS MICHAEL ROBERT TILLEMAN, Appellant, v. MICHAL CHRISTINE TILLEMAN, Appellee. Opinion No. 20210637-CA Filed April 11, 2024 Fourth…

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2024 UT App 52 – In re A.S. – child neglect, photographing genitals

2024 UT App 52 - In re A.S.   THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF A.S. AND J.S., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…

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Why Your Witness May Not Be As Good As You Think By Braxton Mounteer

I recently went to trial with my boss for a divorce case. One of the things that stuck out to me was that quite often the witnesses people call in…

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You Reap What You Sow.

I’m Braxton Mounteer, a legal assistant. I've written and talked about this problem before, but it's a recurring problem and a serious one. It's hard enough to muster the courage…

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Rejecting Fact for Faith: the Inexplicable and Inexcusable Silencing of the PGAL’s Child Client

When a PGAL (private guardian ad litem) is appointed to represent children in a child custody dispute in a Utah divorce case, it would sure be good to know what…

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You Can’t Tell What The Judge Is Thinking By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

I recently accompanied my boss to the trial of a divorce case. If I had had to place a bet on what the judge was thinking at given moment or…

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My Husband Is Forcing Me to Get My Inheritance From Court From My Ex-husband’s (Deceased) Brothers, Otherwise He Will Divorce Me. What Should I Do?

Talk to a good (a good) lawyer about whether you even have the right to “inherit” from your ex-husband’s brothers. Unless there are bizarre circumstances at work here, odds are…

Continue ReadingMy Husband Is Forcing Me to Get My Inheritance From Court From My Ex-husband’s (Deceased) Brothers, Otherwise He Will Divorce Me. What Should I Do?

2024 UT App 43 – domestic violence appeal

State v. Arce - 2024 UT App 43 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellee, v. JOSE FELIPE ARCE, Appellant. Opinion No. 20220006-CA Filed March 28, 2024 First…

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Can I Request to Have My Son’s Grandmother Removed From the Courtroom During My Custody Case Proceedings?

Are the court proceedings in your kind of case open to the public? If so, then the grandmother, being a member of the public, may have a right to be…

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Do Many Women Lie About DV in Divorce and Child Custody Court Cases?

Yes. Many women (not all, but many more than we'd like to believe unquestionably lie and make outright false or grossly exaggerated domestic violence claims. The temptation to tell such…

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Mother Made False Accusations Against a Father to Win Custody and Had a Restraining Order Put in Place With No Evidence to Back Her Reason, Can This Be Overturned?

Can it be overturned? It is possible. Will it be overturned? The odds don’t favor Dad. While some fathers who are falsely accused do obtain vindication, the odds are against…

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I Was Just Laid Off, Through No Fault of My Own, and Don’t Know How Soon I’ll Find Work Again or How Much I Might Actually Earn Once I Do. How Do I Get the Court to Reduce or Terminate My Alimony Obligation?

A reduction in the alimony award obligation is extremely difficult to obtain. It's designed to be difficult to modify downward, so that only those who 1) are truly unable to…

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Fair Treatment in Court by Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant.

The family law legal system likes to portray itself as a shining beacon of justice and equity, but I have seen first-hand that it is not. Whether it is opportunistic…

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Why Get it Straight From the Horse’s Mouth When You Can Get a Truncated Version, Second-Hand?

When a custody evaluator and/or private guardian ad litem is/are appointed in a divorce case in which custody and parent-time of the children is disputed, they usually interview the children…

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I Am Going through a Custody Battle and the Other Parent Is Making False Statements About Me in Court. What Can I Do to Protect Myself and My Child?

If you want just my direct answer to this question, skip to the last paragraph, but I submit that you’ll have a much better understanding of the answer if you…

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2024 UT App 28 – Smith v. Smith

2024 UT App 28 - Smith v. Smith THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JACQUELINE P. SMITH, Appellee,  v. DANIEL H. SMITH, Appellant. Opinion No. 20220697-CA  Filed March 7, 2024  Third…

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In re O.N. – 2024 UT App 27 – failure to sign notice of appeal

In re O.N. - 2024 UT App 27 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF O.N. AND R.N., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. K.D.,…

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Can Child Support (Whether Prospectively or Retrospectively) Be Waived by the Child Support Payee?

The easiest of these two questions to answer is the second one, i.e., “Can child support be waiver retrospectively by the child support payee? The answer is yes, if the…

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If I’m asked to take a urine test in the courthouse, will someone watch me?

Probably. The schemes and technology for providing fake urine samples have advanced so much and are available so easily to everyone that most urine collection that courts order is observed…

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46% of divorced couples say this was the No. 1 conflict in their relationship—and it isn’t money

From cnbc.com: 46% of divorced couples say this was the No. 1 conflict in their relationship—and it isn’t money (Published Tuesday, August 15, 2023 2:23 PM EDT; Updated Tue, August 15,…

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Is there a difference between hearings and trials in Utah divorce cases?

Yes. A hearing is not the same as a trial. While there may be some similarities, they are not the same thing and do not accomplish the same objectives. The…

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Doing What’s Best for Children by Refusing to Hear From Them on the Subject (And Other Nonsense).

Recently an attorney posed a question on a forum for fellow Utah family law attorneys. The question involved how to find out what the children’s experiences have been with one…

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