Why does the mom usually win custody of her kids in a divorce?
Why does the mom usually win custody of her kids in a divorce? Why are mother's awarded child custody so often? There is one main reason, and many ancillary reasons,…
How can I call my 10-year-old as a witness to say where she would like to live?
QUESTION: How can I call my 10-year-old as a witness in family court to say where she would like to live, and why? ANSWER: First, you may want to re-think your…
Risher v. Emerson, 2017 UT App 216 – adequate findings of fact and conclusions of law
2017 UT App 216 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS MICHAEL W. RISHER III, Appellant, AMY M. EMERSON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20160389-CA Filed November 24, 2017 Third District Court, Tooele Department…
Can a Child Be Held in Contempt of Court for Non-compliance with Child Custody and Parent-time Orders?
A minor child of divorced parents need not be a party to the divorce action to be subject to the court’s contempt power. See Crank v. Utah Judicial Council, 20…
I wonder which state in the U.S. has the highest rate of awarding joint physical custody of children in divorce
I wonder which state in the U.S. has the highest rate of awarding joint physical custody of children in divorce. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Utah…
Christmas Break Parent-time 2017 – how it works
NOTE: this will explain how to calculate Christmas break parent-time for any period, in any year (but we'll use 2017 as an example). QUESTION: I'm trying to figure out what day…
Vanderzon v. Vanderzon – 2017 UT App 150 – August 17, 2017 – custody on relocation, alimony, and attorney fees
Vanderzon v. Vanderzon - 2017 UT App 150 - August 17, 2017 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS HEIDI KIRSTEN VANDERZON, Appellant, v. JOHN MATTHIAS VANDERZON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20140946-CA Filed…
Fit parents and their children deserve joint custody
As a matter of basic human rights and human nature, unless they are unfit then divorced and separated parents and their children deserve joint custody. "[A] parent's right to the…
What are the biases shown in family law?
What are the biases shown in family law? Every human bias imaginable can affect a family law case, but the ones that I find most common and most troubling are…
What advice do you have for a mother who is forced to share custody of a 13 year son with covert narcissist?
What advice do you have for a mother who is forced to share custody of a 13 year son with covert narcissist? The longer I practice the more I come…
Can a Parent Pay No Child Support and Still Have Visitation and Parent-time Rights?
QUESTION: Dear Eric, My ex and I have been separated for a while now. He has not given us any money for child support. I am supporting my child and…
Bullet Proofing Your Summer Parent Time – Part 1 of 4 Series
BULLET PROOF ADVANCE NOTICE Note: This is the first of four blog postings on bullet proofing your summer parent time, that I’ll publish in as many weeks. You will want…
Bullet Proofing Your Summer Parent Time – Part 4 of 4
BULLET PROOF YOUR HEARING Note: This is the fourth of four blog postings that I’ll publish in as many weeks. You will want to read them all (and likely want…
Bullet Proofing Your Summer Parent Time – Part 2 of 4
BULLET PROOF YOUR REQUEST FOR COURT ASSISTANCE Note: This is the second of four blog postings that I’ll publish in as many weeks. You will want to read them all.…
Bullet Proofing Your Summer Parent Time – Part 3 of 4
BULLET PROOF YOUR MOTION YOU FILE WITH THE COURT AND YOUR ARGUMENT IN COURT Note: This is the third of four blog postings that I’ll publish in as many weeks. …
Custodial Interference and Writ of Assistance
One of the ways you can enforce your parent-time or custody rights is through a Writ of Assistance. You should know up front that most judges and court commissioners consider…
Supervised Parent-time in Utah – Blocker v. Blocker (January 2017)
KIRSTEEN D. BLOCKER, Appellee, v. MICHAEL P. BLOCKER, Appellant. 2017 UT App 10 The Utah Court of Appeals Memorandum Decision No. 20150720-CA Filed January 12, 2017 Fourth District Court, Provo…
Guide to Succeeding in Divorce While Reducing the Time and Costs
Contents If you are the victim of serious or escalating domestic violence, get help and get to safety first. 2 Advance Planning, If You Have That Option. 2 Gather in…
Some Truly Helpful Online Tools to Make Child Custody and Visitation (Parent-time) Easier to Manage
Let’s face it; sometimes it’s hard to communicate with your ex (or soon to be ex) about the kids. Feelings start to arise, and soon you are in another argument…
Can I Seek an Award of Custody of My Child If I Am an Unwed Illegal Immigrant?
All biological parents have the right to petition for custody of their child or children whether they have ever been married to the other parent, or not. Additionally, all parents…
In Utah, Can a Step-Parent Get Visitation of Custody of a Child Who Is Neither His/Her Natural Nor Adopted Child?
Can a step-parent get visitation or custody of a child who is neither his/her natural nor adopted child in Utah? The short answer is that it’s legally possible, but just…
Can Stepparents Get Visitation Rights After a Divorce?
Question Detail: My granddaughter's father is divorced from her mother, my daughter. The father remarried. His new wife is emotionally, verbally and at times physically abusive to my granddaughter. When…
Bullet-Proofing Your Holiday Parent-time: Send Notice in Writing NOW
Bullet Proofing Your Holiday Time: Send Notice in Writing NOW Many divorced or single parents have issues with parent-time, not because they can’t use a calendar or make a plan,…
Bullet Proofing your Holiday Parent-time
Request mediation (move to compel it, if need be)! Our previous posts ensuring you enjoy and enforce your holiday parent time dealt with giving your ex as much advanced notice…
What Is a Parenting Plan and How Can I Make Mine Rock?! (Part 4 of 4)
"The fairest rules are those to which everyone would agree if they did not know how much power they would have.” — John Rawls Quarreling means trying to show that…
What Is a Parenting Plan and How Can I Make Mine Rock?! (Part 3 of 4)
This blog post covers provisions that are not required by Utah law to be in a parenting plan but that you either are allowed to include in the parenting plan…
What Is a Parenting Plan and How Can I Make Mine Rock?! (Part 2 of 4)
Every Utah parenting plan must contain the following minimum provisions: Provisions for resolution of future disputes between the parents. This means: A process for resolving disputes, unless precluded or limited by…
What Is a Parenting Plan and How Can I Make Mine Rock?! (Part 1 of 4)
Utah Law requires that all joint legal and/or joint physical custody arrangements have a “parenting plan”. “Parenting plan”. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? I mean who…
Battling Custodial Interference – Criminal Prosecution
So what can you do the battle custodial interference if local law enforcement and the city and county attorneys won’t? Check out our blog posting on motions for order to show…