In re I.C. – 2025 UT App 37 – child abuse and neglect

In re I.C. - 2025 UT App 37 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF I.C., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. A.C., Appellant,…

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Lerman v. Lerman – 2024 UT App 155 – Child Custody and Domestic Violence

Lerman v. Lerman - 2024 UT App 155 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DEREK LERMAN, Appellee, v. MICHELLE LERMAN, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230913-CA Filed October 31, 2024 Second District Court,…

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State v. Williamson – 2024 UT App 141 – Child Pornography

LUTHY, Judge: ¶1 James A. Williamson appeals from his convictions on three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. He contends that a police search of his residence violated his constitutional…

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State v. Orton – 2024 UT App 140 – Child Sexual Abuse By Stepparent

State v. Orton - 2024 UT App 140 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellee, v. BRETT LEONARD ORTON, Appellant. Opinion No. 20220119-CA Filed October 3, 2024 Second…

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McKell v. McKell – 2024 UT App 72 – tolling of statute of limitations

McKell v. McKell - 2024 UT App 72 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS SUMMER TATIANA MCKELL AND MICHELLE TISCHNER, Appellants, v. ROBERT C. MCKELL, Appellee. Opinion No. 20220315-CA Filed May…

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What Could Be the Reasons for Someone to Return to an Abusive Partner After Filing for Divorce and Leaving Them Once Before? Why Would They Also Leave Their Children Behind?

Good reasons? Or any and all reasons? In no particular order: The abuse is not bad enough (or perceived as not bad enough) to justify terminating the relationship. Otherwise stated,…

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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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Have You Heard That Fathers Defeat Mothers’ Claims of DV and Child Abuse by Claiming Parental Alienation?

We all know the aphorism, "If it looks/sounds to good to be true, it probably is [not true]." This also means, however, that if it looks/sounds too 𝙗𝙖𝙙 to be true, it…

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House Bill 140 (HB0140 (utah.gov)), “Amendments to Custody and Parent-Time”

Today’s post on proposed family law legislation under consideration during the 2024 Utah legislative session is House Bill 140 (HB0140 (utah.gov)), “Amendments to Custody and Parent-Time”. This bill, according to…

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House Bill 131 (HB0131 (utah.gov)), entitled “Clergy Child Abuse Reporting Requirements”

Today’s blog post reviews House Bill 131 (HB0131 (utah.gov)), entitled “Clergy Child Abuse Reporting Requirements”. It proposes changes to Utah Code § 80-2-602, the law governing when members of the clergy are…

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In re A.S.G.-R. – 2023 UT App 126 – permanent custody and guardianship

In re A.S.G.-R. - 2023 UT App 126 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF A.S.G.-R., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. G.R., Appellant,…

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Do Abusive Parents Get Custody of Their Children? Can Relatives Get Custody Instead?

Do abusive parents get sole custody of their children, even when their children don’t want them to have it? If the children want to stay with a relative who can…

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Do judges sometimes feel overburdened by the responsibilities of their job?

Yes, and for good reason. First, let me be unusually but sincerely candid: many judges and many of the actions that judges take disappoint me. There are some excellent judges…

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Which Is Better: spending thousands on GAL/custody evaluator or $0 on a judge interview?

Which Is Better: spending thousands on GAL/custody evaluator or $0 on a judge interview? How could it be better to spend thousands on a GAL or custody evaluator when the…

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2020 UT App 35 – V.M. v. Division of Child and Family Services

2020 UT App 35 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS V.M., Appellant, v. DIVISION OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, Appellee. Opinion No. 20180906-CA Filed March 5, 2020 Fourth District Juvenile Court,…

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State v. Popp – 2019 UT App 173 – divorce and sexual abuse of children

2019 UT App 173 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellee, v. JUSTIN WILLIAM POPP, Appellant. Opinion No. 20180224-CA Filed October 31, 2019 First District Court, Brigham City…

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