2023 UT App 137 - Lobendahn v. Lobendahn THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS MARCUS JAMES LOBENDAHN, Appellant and Cross-appellee, v. LEEYEN MOEVAI LOBENDAHN, Appellee and Cross-appellant. Opinion No. 20210278-CA…
This is a subject that comes up frequently. It comes up frequently not because misappropriating child support is a hard problem to mitigate but because the courts don’t have the…
Generally: It appears that the law in Utah is that the trial court is not required to consider hypothetical and/or future tax consequences of the disposition of the marital estate. See Howell v. Howell,…
Special masters and parent coordinators (and co-parenting therapists, co-parent coaches/consultants, and their ilk) were invented for the purpose of unburdening courts from some of the conflict associated with domestic relations…
THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF G.H. AND R.H., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. L.G., Appellant, v. R.G. AND R.G., Appellees. Opinion No. 20220920-CA…
No matter how hard people try to argue against remarriage (or marriage, for that matter), for all but a very, very few of us the arguments aren't true. Going through…
In every Utah divorce case, the parties must prepare what is known as a financial declaration. The parties to a divorce action are required by the rules of court to…
State v. Fowers - 2023 UT App 128 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellant, v. THOMAS FOWERS, Appellee. Opinion No. 20220073-CA Filed October 26, 2023 Fourth District Court,…
In re H.M. - 2023 UT App 122 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF H.M. AND D.M., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. G.B., Appellant, v.…
In re D.S. - 2023 UT App 98 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF D.S. AND K.S., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. S.S.,…
Question: I am ordered to pay child support to my ex. My ex and I are both ordered to share the cost of our child’s health, medical, dental, and hospital care…
John v. John - 2023 UT App 103 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS LUCAS ALLEN JOHN, Appellee, v. CASSANDRA KATHLEEN JOHN, Appellant. Opinion No. 20210506-CA Filed September 14, 2023 Third…
Absolutely. No question about it. Now, don’t confuse “he has every right to ask for receipts” with “he has every right to receipts”. If a child support payor (known in some jurisdictions as the…
You have just received an email from your lawyer about a deadline that your lawyer needs your help to meet. What should you do? You are already extremely busy with your life and…
Appellee. Opinion No. 20220629-CA Filed September 28, 2023 Second District Juvenile Court, Ogden Department The Honorable Tasha Williams No. 1183589 Colleen K. Coebergh, Attorney for Appellant Sean D. Reyes, Carol…
Your spouse must be served with the summons and divorce complaint or petition before the case can proceed. In my jurisdiction (as I believe it to be the case in…
Lawyers’ reputation for lying is, unfortunately, well-founded. There is a Bosnian proverb, “He who will lie for you will lie to you.” Lawyers who lie for their clients (and there…
Some do (if you can imagine an attorney doing something like that, it’s probably already been done), but they’re outliers, and they are violating both the law and the rules…
2023 UT App 95 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF M.M., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. A.M., Appellant, v. STATE OF UTAH,…
Why? You’ll hear the argument that a PGAL should be appointed for a child because we don't want to traumatize children by having them testify on the record. Where is the…
My opinions on prenuptial agreements have changed over the course of my career as a divorce and family lawyer over the past 26 years. Had you asked me whether I…
In re Harding Trust - 2023 UT App 81 – family trust 2023 UT App 81 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS IN THE MATTER OF THE A. DEAN HARDING MARITAL AND…
Blake v. Smith - 2023 UT App 78 2023 UT App 78 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DEJUAN BLAKE, Appellee, v. JILLYN SMITH, Appellant. Opinion No. 20210779-CA Filed July 20,…
State v. Hararah - 2023 UT App 77 2023 UT App 77 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellee, v. HOUSTON RAEFAT HARARAH, Appellant. Opinion No. 20220276-CA Filed…
Before terminating a parent’s rights, the court must find that termination is “strictly necessary to promote the child’s best interest.” This analysis must be undertaken from the child’s point of view.…
Who would you believe more in a court case: a person who admits to his/her faults, who honestly discloses all of his/her relevant information (even the information that hurts his/her…
I’m just at the beginning stages of a divorce case, but already in the thick of it. My spouse tells me she is going to have her lawyer file a…
This is a more complex question than it might at first appear. First, we need to address the matter of people who confuse beliefs with facts. If I had a…
There is more than one question to answer here. First, does a parent have the unilateral power simply to “give up” his or her parental rights (and accompanying obligations)? No. The…
Unless a court were to order that a parent was barred from traveling out of state or out of the country with the children on vacation, a joint legal and…
If what we learn from witnesses didn't generally tend to be more informative and reliable than not, then we wouldn't listen to witnesses at all. No sensible person believes that…
In re K.R. - 2023 UT App 75 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.R. AND R.B., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…
State v. Arnold – 2023 UT App 68 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellee, v. WILLIAM JOHN ARNOLD, Appellant. Opinion No. 20210286-CA Filed June 23, 2023 Eighth…
In re M.S. - 2023 UT App 74 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF M.S., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. R.S. AND…
There are two kinds of child custody, not just one. Those two different kinds are legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody is the power of a parent to make…
Because divorce is not about a spouse (man or woman) getting “half of everything”. Depending upon whether a state is a “community property” state or an “equitable distribution” state, here…
Does your jurisdiction permit people to make use of marijuana recreationally? Or to make use of it with a doctor’s prescription or a “medical marijuana card”? If so, then smelling…
This is a good question and one that arises frequently in one form or another; a parent either can’t or won’t provide personal care and supervision of the parties’ children…
If the court does not have jurisdiction to issue an order to the school district or has issued a defective order, then the school district has every right to oppose…
Great question. There are many ways to do this wrong, so let’s start with those. Just tell the teachers and principal and expect them to take your word for it; bring…
Yes. Utah Code § 30–3–36(2) requires: (2) For emergency purposes, whenever the child travels with either parent, all of the following will be provided to the other parent: (a) an…
In re L.L.B. - 2023 UT App 66 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS IN THE INTEREST OF L.L.B., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. C.B. AND H.B., Appellees, v.…
2023 UT App 60 - Martinez v. Sanchez-Garcia THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DAISY MARTINEZ Appellant, v. FERNANDO SANCHEZ-GARCIA, Appellee. Opinion No. 20210829-CA Filed June 2, 2023 First District Court,…
2023 UT App 48 - Anderson v. Deem THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS ELLIE ANDERSON, Appellant, v. JACKSON DEEM, Appellee. Opinion No. 20210558-CA Filed May 11, 2023 Fourth District Court,…
2023 UT App 57 - State v. Schroeder THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellee, v. MICHAEL SCHROEDER, Appellant. Opinion No. 20190339-CA[1] Filed May 25, 2023 Fifth District…
2023 UT App 55 - In re F.C.G. THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF F.C.G., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. L.C.G., Appellant,…
2023 UT App 62 - Cox v. Cox THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS BLANCHE COX, Appellee, v. JAMES A. COX, Appellant. Opinion No. 20210455-CA Filed June 8, 2023 Fourth District…
Can my non-custodial parent consent to a tattoo for me? I'm a minor and my mom has full custody of me. She’s thought about allowing a tattoo but has never…
Unless a statute, court rule, or court order provides otherwise, yes (you will want to ensure you consult the governing law for your particular jurisdiction). That power to travel out…
Whether my recollection is true or not, I remember being taught in law school that tithing and other regular charitable giving cannot be treated as a personal expense deduction in…