Every year, I watch people bring “important” documents to court that the judge will never read. Emails. Text messages. Financial records. Therapist letters. Receipts. Recordings. Sometimes the most important material…
In discussions about protective orders and alleged domestic violence, I often hear a familiar refrain: “Protective orders should be granted liberally even when the question comes down to one person’s…
I. The Founding TraumaIn the Meadow, everyone agreed on one thing: voices were dangerous.It hadn’t always been so. Long ago, animals spoke plainly. Some spoke well, somepoorly, some too much.…
This post is the fourth in a four-part series examining Utah courts’ reliance on guardians ad litem (GALs), private guardians ad litem (PGALs), and custody evaluators, and the legal, procedural,…
This post is the third in a four-part series examining Utah courts’ reliance on guardians ad litem (GALs), private guardians ad litem (PGALs), and custody evaluators, and the legal, procedural,…
This post is the first in a four-part series examining Utah courts’ reliance on guardians ad litem (GALs), private guardians ad litem (PGALs), and custody evaluators, beginning with the strongest…
Questioning the Assumed Superiority of Custody Evaluators and Guardians ad Litem A foundational assumption in modern custody practice is rarely stated outright, but it governs nearly everything that follows: that…
When Courts Hear About Children Instead of Hearing From Them In Utah child-custody and parent-time disputes, motions to appoint a Private Guardian ad Litem (PGAL) and/or a custody evaluator have…
Evidence, Record-Making, and the Limits of Testimonial Substitution Courts, lawyers, and commissioners in child custody and parent-time disputes often operate on an unspoken assumption: that the only acceptable way to…
2025 UT App 188 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH,Appellee, v. KASSIE ANGEL TOLMAN, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230006-CA Filed December 18, 2025 First District Court, Logan DepartmentThe Honorable Angela FonnesbeckNo. 191100466 Lyla Mahmoud, Debra…
There’s a persistent belief in the divorce and custody world that the “right” divorce and child custody lawyer can work miracles. That if you hire someone clever enough, aggressive enough,…
Utah law allows a child to be represented by an attorney—either a guardian ad litem (GAL) when there are allegations of child abuse, or by a private guardian ad litem…
A candid, experience-based guide for parents who need the truth without varnish or theatrics. Not every case involves manipulation. Not every professional fails. But when these problems occur—and they do—the…
This is not unusual: a spouse suddenly “doesn’t own anything,” yet somehow pays the taxes, insurance, maintenance, or mortgage on a house that’s titled in Mom’s name. Or money gets…
If you have spent any time searching for information about alimony, you already know the truth: most people hate the idea of paying it, most people love the idea of…
People often assume that once their ex remarries, financial obligations from the divorce automatically shrink or disappear. It’s not that simple. In short: when it comes to the effects on child…
The short answer: No — you have hope, but you have work to do. Utah custody law has changed significantly in past generation, but the core principles are the same:…
Utah Law Does Not Support a Categorical Bar to Child Testimony Utah’s custodial statute expressly contemplates judicial inquiry into a child’s views. Section 81-9-204(5)(b)(i) provides that “the court may inquire…
When Utah courts face high-conflict custody disputes, one common suggestion is to appoint what is known as a Private Guardian ad Litem (PGAL)—an attorney ostensibly tasked with “representing the best interests of…
People often come into court thinking they can game or “outsmart the system.” They’ve read something online, talked to a friend who claims to have “pulled one over on the…
Utah courts are tasked with making custody and parent-time decisions based on the best interest of the child. But you cannot know what schedule truly serves a child’s best interest if…
In Utah divorces, casting your spouse as the villain without proof can wreck your credibility and your custody case. Self-reflection and evidence—not drama—win the day. Divorce brings out strong emotions.…
In Utah, you don’t get a court-appointed lawyer for a divorce case because a divorce case is a civil, not a criminal, matter. That means even if your divorce case affects your…
Utah family courts often order custody, psychological, or substance-abuse evaluations. Learn what to expect, how to prepare, and how to protect yourself during these high-stakes assessments. _________ When a Utah…
Discovery is the stage of your Utah divorce, custody, or support case where both sides gather evidence. It’s not optional, and it’s not endless. Utah’s Rule 26 sets strict standards…
Once discovery closes in your Utah divorce, child custody, or support case, it’s supposed to stay closed. The court expects both sides to be finished gathering evidence and ready for…
When discovery closes in your Utah divorce, child custody, or support case, you can’t keep gathering (or using at trial) new evidence unless it fits a very narrow exception.Many people…
When discovery closes in your Utah divorce, child custody, or support case, that’s the official end of the evidence-gathering phase. You can’t send out new discovery requests, And you can’t…
Utah judges and commissioners can—and many often do—bend or ignore laws/rules and facts. Learn how this happens, why appellate oversight rarely corrects it, and what litigants can do to protect…
Utah divorce and family courts sometimes wander into nanny-court social engineering, issuing orders that treat parents like fools and/or helpless children who can’t be trusted to act sensibly without judicial…
Disappointment Is Not Synonymous with Misunderstanding Divorce and custody cases are full of hard choices, unfamiliar rules, and outcomes no one loves. It’s normal to be disappointed when a judge…
In a Utah divorce or custody dispute, you can’t just file whatever you want with a court and whenever you feel like it. The Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, plus orders…
In Utah, you can still get divorced if your spouse disappears, but only after proving you made a diligent search and using court-approved alternative service of process methods. Missing spouse…
Courts (and the orders that govern them) mean it when they set deadlines. If you miss one, you can lose claims, defenses, evidence, or even your entire case. Excuses like…
Divorce is hard enough without turning it into a credibility war. Alimony — what Utah law calls “spousal support” — exists to help a financially disadvantaged spouse transition without being…
In Utah, you can share in your spouse’s lottery winnings if the divorce is still pending. After the divorce is final, you cannot reopen the property settlement, but the winnings…
“Remember that most people will pretend to operate in your interest while operating in their own.” —Ray Dalio Dalio wasn’t talking about family courts when he wrote this, but he…
The explosion of text messages, emails, and social media has had a significant impact on divorce litigation. The Shift: From He Said/She Said to Digital Receipts Not long ago, custody…
I apologize in advance; I cannot limit myself to just one answer, but I will start off with the “top” idea and then share others. Courts could make custody disputes…
After 28 years of divorce practice (as of the date this post is shared), I've watched countless cases that could have and should resolve in months drag on for a…
(For educational purposes only. Consult your attorney before you considering using these in your own case.) GAL Acting Like a Witness Without Being Sworn “Your Honor, I object. The Guardian…
World War II’s silk shortage forced the military to abandon a comfortable default; nylon parachutes—stronger, cheaper, and mass-producible—started as a substitute and became the superior standard. COVID-19 did the same…
If a parent is awarded sole legal custody of a child, does that award not carry with it an implicit obligation to exercise that sole legal custody power in good…
TL;DR: If you can’t afford your Utah divorce attorney anymore, tell him/her immediately. You may be able to arrange a payment plan, switch to limited scope services, or proceed on your…
Don’t wait until the first day of school to address custody schedules, school choice, communication with the school, extracurricular costs, or special needs. Review your decree, coordinate with your ex…
Are you thinking about offering a settlement in your Utah divorce or child custody case? Here is what you should consider before you make the first move — including how…
Do you wonder whether your divorce lawyer is ignoring what really matters in your divorce or custody case? With this post you will learn why your concerns may be legally…
It’s not uncommon during a divorce for one spouse to claim that the other is disparaging them—online, in conversations with mutual friends, or even in front of their children. We…
Most cases don't need a PGAL or evaluator appointment. Why are court interviews often the better choice?: Quality of evidence: Direct court interviews create objective, recorded testimony rather than subjective, unverifiable,…
2025 UT App 105 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DEBRA JEAN REAM, Appellant, v. JACOB M. REAM, Appellee. Opinion No. 20230799-CA Filed July 10, 2025 Fourth District Court, Provo Department…