When a Utah divorce case is commenced, life doesn’t stop while the case is pending. Children still need a consistent schedule. The mortgage, utilities, and insurance bills still come due.…
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…
State v. Hansen - 2025 UT App 121 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH,Appellee, v. STEPHANIE HANSEN,Appellant. Opinion No. 20220178-CA Filed August 14, 2025 Fourth District Court, Provo…
2025 UT App 123 – Cedar City v. McCraw THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS CEDAR CITY,Appellee, V. JENNIFER LYNN MCCRAW, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230747-CA Filed August 14, 2025 Fifth District…
In Utah custody disputes, Guardians ad Litem (GALs) and custody evaluators can have enormous influence over the outcome, often so much so that it’s far more than the law actually…
Telling your spouse you are considering divorce before filing can either open the door to a cooperative, low-drama split—or give them time to get the jump on you and hurt…
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…
I. Introduction A psychological evaluation in a custody or divorce case sounds powerful. You may believe (or even know) your spouse to be manipulative, unstable, or even dangerous. So why…
Ross v. Kracht - 2025 UT 22 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH JULIE ROSS and GERALD ROSS, Appellees, v. STEVEN KRACHT and DENIELLE KRACHT, Appellants. No. 20230389…
In re Adoption of B.C. - 2025 UT 23 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH In the Matter of the Adoptions of B.C., K.J.C., D.W.C., and B.C.,…
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,…
People rave about Atomic Habits by James Clear. I do not. It’s not a bad book, but not life-changing, at least not for me. Maybe it didn’t move me much…
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…
TL;DR: No, not without strict limits. In Utah, no parent may not allow a registered sex offender to be around your children—even in that parent’s own home—without the other parent’s…
If you get divorced in Utah, you may be surprised to learn that you are required—unless you are excused for good cause—to attend at least one session of mediation before…
Taylor v. Taylor - 2025 UT App 94 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JACQUELINE KEMPTON TAYLOR, Appellant, v. MARK BENNETT TAYLOR, Appellee. Opinion No. 20230868-CA Filed June 26, 2025 Third…
One of the most asked questions about divorce (and biggest source of friction between divorce lawyers and their clients) is how you manage your divorce case while working a full-time…
(most definitions are from or based upon Black’s Law Dictionary, but some are from Utah sources, other sources, or are my own) ADR (alternative dispute resolution). Any procedure for settling…
Subject: Please Fund Courtroom Live Streaming I’m writing to ask that you support the $450,000 one-time funding request to enable live streaming of district court proceedings statewide. Live streaming public court…
See Pusey v. Pusey, 728 P.2d 117, 121 (Utah 1986): ZIMMERMAN, Justice (concurring in the result): [I] also believe it is time to discontinue any hint of support for the notion of…
Divorce has many components, one of which often includes litigating in court. Ensuring a fair outcome in your divorce case requires more than just going to court and arguing. One…
I cannot speak as to what the law is on all jurisdictions, but I can answer this question based upon the law of the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and…
In a Utah divorce, retirement assets are often among the most valuable marital assets to divide. Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s, IRAs, pensions, and government or union retirement plans are…
This is a common and important question that arises in a divorce. If you are out of the marital home—whether by court order (such as a protective order) or voluntarily—and…
Garner v. Kadince - 2025 UT App 80 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS MATTHEW GARNER, Petitioner, v. KADINCE, INC.; JARED HALES; AND AARON VENEZIA, Respondents. Per Curiam Opinion No. 20250188-CA…
Beverlin v. Beverlin - 2025 UT App 72 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STEVEN K. BEVERLIN, Appellee, v. GAIL W. BEVERLIN, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230597-CA Filed May 22, 2025 Second…
Miner v. Miner - 2025 UT App 64 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS LISA P. MINER, Appellee, v. JOHN E. MINER, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230278-CA Filed May 8, 2025 Fifth…
Does Utah law require divorced or single parents to pay child support in the form of college tuition for their children? Require it? No. Utah does not require divorced or single…
This opinion is subject to revision before final publication in the Pacific Reporter In re D.S. - 2025 UT 11 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH STATE…
This question perennially arises at graduation time, and it’s graduation time when I write this post. Unless your Utah-issued decree of divorce contains provisions for child support that deviate from…
Where both parents are fit parents and want to be as involved as possible in rearing that child—both out of a personal interest in enjoying parenthood and out of commitment…
My wife had an affair, got caught when she got pregnant by her lover, and then separated from me to move in with him. She had the baby and she…
There are actually three different but related types of child support in Utah for divorced and unmarried parents who obtain child support orders either through administrative means or through a…
Some spouses will absolutely exploit the legal system to gain an unfair advantage in divorce proceedings. It's crucial to recognize the manipulative tactics your spouse might employ against you—even if…
As a legal assistant at a family law firm (and as a soon to be law school graduate), I see firsthand how the current no-fault divorce regime can create problems…
If you are a fit parent (not abusive, not neglectful, not suffering from any disability that renders you unable to provide the care and support the child needs, and can…
A house does not need to be vacant to be appraised and evaluated. The appraiser(s) can inspect and evaluate the house while you're spouse or ex-spouse is still living there…
Divorce is for most people a very stressful and emotional process. If you are ready to hire a divorce attorney, knowing how to approach working with your attorney can significantly…
No one is required to hire a lawyer to represent him/her in a child custody dispute. If you are involved in a termination of parental rights or child abuse case…
When you're involved in a family law matter whether it's a divorce, child custody dispute, or a spousal support issue, one of the most frustrating challenges to encounter is an…
Yes, they can. Not merely agreements, but binding and enforceable court orders can be made by the court to address such an issue too. They are hard to enforce (because…
The decisions to marry and to end a marriage are not decisions to be taken lightly. If divorce is ever an easy choice, something is terribly wrong. Wrong with the…
I can identify the problem by phrasing it in the form of several hypothetical questions to a judge: Is the approach to the allegations going to be, “Because these kinds…
2025 UT App 43 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS VICKI JO NELSON, Appellee, v. JAMES Q. NELSON, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230483-CA Filed March 27, 2025 Third District Court, Salt Lake…
What can a father do if, after the divorce, the mother, who has custody of the child, turns the child against the father? What can he do? There are many things he…
I cannot answer this question as it applies to all jurisdictions, but I can answer it as it applies to the jurisdiction where I practice family law (Utah): Merely because you are…