How can I find out the statistics on a specific judge and prosecutor?
This the best I could do on this question: Finding Data and Statistics on Judges LLSDC Home National Center for State Courts For my jurisdiction (Utah) for state (as opposed…
Divorcing parents in psychiatric care deny thoughts of self-harm?
Do parents in psychiatric care deny thoughts of self-harm for fear admitting it may impact custody? Is it common for a parent in psychiatric care to make false denials of thoughts…
2019 UT 74 – Mackley v. Openshaw – Utah Supreme Court – denial of paternity
This opinion is subject to revision before final publication in the Pacific Reporter 2019 UT 74 – Mackley v. Openshaw - IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH…
What is the best way to approach child custody with a narcissist?
What is the best way to approach child custody with a narcissist? I am terrified of losing my daughter because of my ex’s incessant lies. My answer (couched in my…
How do you get legal help if no attorney wants your case?
If an attorney tells you your case complex and not a big money suit, it means the lawyer feels it’s more trouble than it is worth, meaning that it’s at…
Medical school vs. Law school – which is harder?
Between medical and law school, which is considered harder? I'm a lawyer, but I believe that medical school is generally more difficult for most students than is law school. Medical…
How can parents be so unloving that make their own child homeless by kicking him or her out?
I presume this question pertains to an adult child. Homelessness is not the most important thing in one’s life. Self-reliance and basic dignity are more important to the adult child…
Can you divorce your spouse even if your spouse does want a divorce?
Yes. This is what is known as “no fault divorce”. Every state in the U.S. has no fault divorce laws. Many people believe that “no fault” divorce means that one…
Why not have all attorneys get paid the same (like Medicare for all)?
If you agree that we need justice reform, would you embrace a system where all attorneys get paid the same (like Medicare for all) and the poor don't get a…
Is it constitutional for a student to pray in his public school cafeteria before lunch?
A student is praying alone in his public school cafeteria before lunch. According to the establishment clause, why is this activity acceptable? It’s not unacceptable under the establishment clause. Any…
As a lawyer, where did you think most problems in society stem from?
Indulging self-interest without regard to, and at the expense of, the God-given rights of others and the needs of the public at large. More concisely stated: disregard for the Golden…
My 17-year-old got booked into jail over the weekend. What do I do?
My son is 17 years old and he got caught with cigarettes in his locker at school. The school called the police and booked him in jail over the weekend.…
How can I encourage my child to follow law and legal issues of everyday life?
Set an example of being a conscientious law-abiding citizen yourself. “Do as I say, not as I do” is not the way to set a good example. Read “Sermons We…
New Mexico Supreme Court Abolishes Spousal Communications Privilege
Seeing no modern justification for the spousal communications privilege, the New Mexico Supreme Court has abolished it in an August 30, 2019 opinion. Spousal communication privilege 'has outlived its useful…
Which is the best website to learn law?
Impossible to say. Just as soon as a great site goes up, another great site seems to go dark. The best way to find what the best websites for you…
Gardner v. Gardner – 2019 UT 28 – alimony – infidelity – tax burden
This opinion is subject to revision before final publication in the Pacific Reporter Gardner v. Gardner - 2019 UT 28 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH CHRISTINA…
How many years is it likely to be before father’s rights are recognized as equal to mother’s rights in child custody cases?
Not many. In fact, in many jurisdictions this has already occurred (many states have, in the past few years, passed laws that presume joint equal custody is in the child’s…
Can you re-file for custody after a judgment has been made?
Can you re-file for custody after a judgment has been made? Yes. In the context of a divorce or child custody action (not a termination of parental rights case), the…
Are you glad you chose a career in law?
Yes. But if you’re considering a career in law and you’re a young person, I wouldn’t rely on the experience of lawyers a generation ahead of you to determine whether…
What is the most likely experience for kids who age out of the foster care system?
Funny you should ask, as I just finished up a conference at which a retired judge and family advocate spoke on this very subject. The statistics are tragic. Those that…
Why Are Criminals Stigmatized After They Do Their Time?
When someone serves his/her sentence to do time, and completes it, why is it still not be enough to have paid their 'debt to society'? Why must they bear the…
How is a therapist going to fix my depression?
My depression has kept me in bed for years. I spend 80% of my day chasing sleep. People tell me to get help. But how is a therapist going to…
What was your favorite case, and how did it go down?
As an attorney, what was your favorite case, and how did it go down? Winning the argument over whether the children of a divorcing couple should bear their father’s last…
What is the most ridiculous thing you and your spouse fight about?
Whether food is bad enough to throw out. Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277 https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-ridiculous-thing-you-and-your-spouse-fight-about/answer/Eric-Johnson-311
Why do some lawyers settle for a plea bargain when they know their client is innocent?
Many different reasons, but here’s a good example of one reason: because there are times when being innocent may not result in the jury believing you are, in fact, innocent.…
If my spouse died without assigning me the survivor’s benefits, can I still get them?
If a husband died naming his wife as the one to receive the survivor's benefits, then how can a wife get a pension? First, do you know if you aren’t…
Widdison v. Kirkham – 2018 UT App 205 – contempt, attorney’s fees
2018 UT App 205 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JAMIE WIDDISON, Appellee, v. JANAE A. KIRKHAM, Appellant. Opinion No. 20160961-CA Filed November 1, 2018 Third District Court, Salt Lake Department…
What’s the Funniest Court Case You’ve Seen?
Here are my top 3: #1) My client was charged with drug possession after a police officer found them in a hard carton cigarette pack (one made out of cardboard)…
What are the oddest divorce cases you’ve seen?
What are the oddest divorce cases you've seen? I haven’t encountered anything all that odd, but the most tragicomic case I encountered was one I encountered in my first year…
Using Smart Home Devices to Stalk and Harass
Lawyers consider restraining orders to stop abusers from using smart home devices to harass - but you can protect yourself Some domestic abusers are using smart home devices to intimidate,…
What is the hardest part about a divorce?
What is the hardest part about a divorce? We’re all different, and divorce affects each of us in different ways, but generally speaking: Legal Standpoint If you’re the one wanting…
Does Utah recognize common law marriage? What is common law marriage anyway?
Does Utah recognize common law marriage? Utah law does provide for recognition of a marriage that was not solemnized (i.e., not made legal by a formal, legal marriage ceremony), but…
Is there a contract that says you can disown your child and waive all rights to child support?
I can answer this question the way Utah law handles it. First, there is no “contract” for disowning a child and terminating the obligation to support the child, but there…
Is a fiancee considered family by law?
No, but . . . A fiancee is nothing more than a potentiality. The couple is “engaged” to be married, but not yet married, not yet husband and wife, and…
What are the chances?
What are the chances of a husband who left his wife for 12 months, for two or more affairs to divorce and remarry again? Given the “number fish in the…
What rights does a 7-year-old have when being questioned in school?
What rights does a 7-year-old have when being questioned in school by child protective services can they refuse to answer and ask for their parent or their lawyer to be…
Will a narcissist ever stop hating me for having custody of our child?
Will a narcissist ever stop hating me for having custody of our child? It’s possible, but not likely. It is easier to cure a person of heroin addiction than to…
Gallows humor
When I saw this link: I clicked on the link, which brought me to this page: Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277
Why do other men neglect their child/children after breaking up with their mom? Do they regret it later in life?
Why do other men neglect their child/children after breaking up with their mom? Do they regret it later in life? One of the best answers I’ve read is found here.…
Can I Recover the Engagement Ring (or what I paid for it), If Either of Us Breaks Off the Engagement?
Can I recover the engagement ring (or what I paid for it), if my fiance or I break(s) it off? It is possible in Utah. In Hess v. Johnston, 163 P.3d 747…
For people who believe in a businesslike divorce . . .
- For people who believe in a businesslike[1] divorce; -------------- [1] carried out purposefully, efficiently and effectively without wasting time or being distracted by extraneous personal or other concerns; methodical,…
What is the function of bailiff in court?
What is the function of bailiff in court? In Utah, where I practice, they are officers of the county sheriff or city police department who are in the courtroom to…
How can I remove my last name, and substitute an initial?
Question: How can I remove my last name, and substitute an initial? Answer: If what you are asking is, “I am an adult who wants to know whether I can…
Can I choose what high school to go as a 16 year old without my parents’ consent?
Question: Can I choose what high school to go as a 16 year old without my parents' consent? Answer: In the state of Utah, where I practice law, a 16…
How old do I have to be and what does it cost to legally change my name?
Question: How old do I have to be and how much does it cost to legally change my name? Answer: In Utah, where I practice, you can have your name…
Can I have a legal alternate spelling of my first name?
Question: Can I have a legal alternate spelling of my first name? Answer: I practice in Utah, and in Utah I am not aware of a way that you can…
What is the function of bailiff in court?
What is the function of bailiff in court? In Utah, where I practice, they are officers of the county sheriff of city police department who are in the courtroom to…
Sauer v. Sauer, 2017 UT App 114 (July 13, 2017)
Sauer v. Sauer, 2017 UT App 114 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS PAUL R. SAUER II, Appellant, v. PAULINE L. SAUER, Appellee. Opinion No. 20150952-CA Filed July 13, 2017…
In re S.W., 2017 UT 37 (July 17, 2017)
This opinion is subject to revision before final publication in the Pacific Reporter In re S.W., 2017 UT 37 (July 17, 2017) IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF…
