Why is it so easy to get married, and so hard to get divorced?
Why is it so easy to get married, and so hard to get divorced? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a perceptive question. It would not not…
When do courts value the marital estate?
When do courts value the marital estate? At time of separation, or at the time the court enters the Decree of Divorce? This is a question that often causes divorcing…
How do you protect your assets from divorce, lawsuits, etc.?
How do you protect your assets from divorce, government confiscation, lawsuits, garnishments, or seizure? Best way: own nothing. The government (in all its forms) cannot seize from you that which…
If you get a divorce but everything is in your name, do you have to split it?
If you get a divorce but everything is in your name, do you get to keep everything or do you have to split it? I will answer your question in…
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…
What are the significant changes to family law in the past two centuries?
What are the most important changes to the family law in the 19th century and 20th century up to today, and why? In my opinion (and in no particular order): …
Duffin v. Duffin – 2022 UT App 60
2022 UT App 60 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JAMES M. DUFFIN III, Appellee and Cross-appellant, v. BRANDY E. DUFFIN, Appellant and Cross-appellee. Opinion No. 20200361-CA Filed May 12, 2022 Third District Court, West Jordan Department…
Beckham v. Beckham, 2022 UT App 65
2022 UT App 65 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS VICKI BECKHAM, Appellee, v. RANDALL BECKHAM, Appellant. Opinion No. 20200935-CA Filed May 19, 2022 Third District Court, Salt Lake Department The…
Knowles v. Knowles – UT App 47
Knowles v. Knowles - UT App 47 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DUANE CROFT KNOWLES, Appellant, v. CELIA FERN KNOWLES, Appellee. Opinion No. 20200032 Filed April 7, 2022 Second District…
Erickson v. Erickson – 2022 UT App 27
THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DEAN ERICKSON, Appellee, v. JANICE ERICKSON, Appellant. Opinion No. 20200193-CA Filed March 3, 2022 Third District Court, Salt Lake Department The Honorable Todd M. Shaughnessy…
Hillam v. Hillam – 2022 UT App 24 – final and appealable ruling, rule 54(b)
2022 UT App 24 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JOHN DINSDALE HILLAM, Petitioner, v. TARA HILLAM, Respondent and Appellant, v. DUSTIN HANCOCK AS INVESTMENT TRUSTEE, Respondent and Appellee. Opinion No.…
Wadsworth v. Wadsworth – 2022 UT App 5 – marital estate
2022 UT App 5 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS CANDI WADSWORTH, Appellant, v. GUY L. WADSWORTH, Appellee. Opinion No. 20190106-CA No. 20200430-CA Filed January 13, 2022 Third District Court, Salt…
Fischer v. Fischer – 2021 UT App 145 – marital vs. separate property
THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS GARY LEE FISCHER, Appellant, v. MELISSA KAY FISCHER, Appellee. Opinion No. 20200557-CA Filed December 30, 2021 Seventh District Court, Moab Department The Honorable Don Torgerson …
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 18: Financial Declarations and Initial Disclosures
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 18: Financial Declarations and Initial Disclosures By Quinton Lister, legal assistant My minimal exposure to the legal profession as a legal…
Nakkina v. Mahanthi – 2021 UT App 63 – joint equal custody, marital property, attorney fees
Nakkina v. Mahanthi - 2021 UT App 63 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS SIREESHA NAKKINA, Appellee, v. PRODEEP KUMAR MAHANTHI, Appellant. Opinion No. 20190750-CA Filed June 17, 2021 Third District…
Do courts make awards in divorce to “punish” adultery?
Do courts make awards in divorce to “punish” adultery? Great question. Adultery is considered a fault-based ground for divorce and a factor that can be considered when the trial court…
Can there be a prenup that will protect the salary you earn during the marriage?
In the context of alimony, no ( at least not in the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and family law, which is Utah). A prenuptial agreement provision that purports to…
What can you do if you failed to get a prenup before getting married? Is there anything I can do that’s close to a Prenup when I’m already married?
What can you do if you failed to get a prenup before getting married? Is there anything I can do that’s close to a Prenup when I’m already married? It…
My spouse opens accounts in my name, forges my signature. How to stop it?
My spouse opens accounts in my name, steals checks, forges my signature. How do I get my spouse to stop? Without telling me, my spouse opens store accounts in my…
What would happen if there were no alimony or splitting assets in divorce without kids?
That is an interesting question. Before I answer it, know this: anyone who is motivated to marry on a “what’s in it for me?” basis and who stays married motivated…
Financial infidelity plagues many households, led by millennials
Guest post: https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/financial-infidelity/ Financial infidelity plagues many households, led by millennials By Ted Rossman Ted Rossman's Twitter profile Mar. 19, 2021 / 3 min read At Bankrate we strive to help you make…
Can a divorced spouse claim rights to a previous primary residence?
Can a divorced spouse claim rights to a previous primary residence? A court can, in exceptional circumstances, award a spouse some or all of your premarital and separate property that…
Can a divorced spouse claim rights to a premarital primary residence?
Can a divorced spouse claim rights to a premarital primary residence? A court can, in exceptional circumstances, award a spouse some or all of your premarital and separate property that…
Married a short time. He demands discovery going back years. Can he?
Married a short time. He demands discovery going back years. Can he? Married 16 months. He became abusive almost immediately after. I filed for divorce. He and his attorney is…
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…
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…
What are ways divorcees reach a mutual agreement when splitting up their assets?
What are ways divorcees reach a mutual agreement when splitting up their assets? What they often do (but shouldn’t): rationalize and justify their greed and pettiness in advancing their “arguments”*…
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…
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…
Give my spouse half my retirement in divorce, or just ride it out?
If I have to give my spouse half of my retirement after a divorce, should I still go forward or just ride it out? Great question, but not for the…
Divorce and your mortgage: Here’s what to know
Guest Post from Bankrate.com - Divorce and your mortgage: Here’s what to know Some couples decide to refinance a joint mortgage into one name upon divorce. What this does is…
Do I owe my spouse of just a few months anything in divorce?
When a young couple divorces after only a month of marriage, should there ever be an expectation that one party owes anything to the other, even if they lived with…
Will the court compensate me if my spouse destroys my property?
I purchased a vehicle on payments prior to marriage; husband burned up vehicle; now it’s a delinquent debt on me, in divorce trial, can it be ask he consumes half…
