Ideally, with overwhelming amounts of compelling, objectively verifiable evidence that 1) the mother is unfit to exercise custody of the child; and 2) you are fit to exercise custody of the child. Why overwhelming…
There are a few things that you should be aware of before you decide to pull the trigger on filing an appeal on the outcome of your divorce trial. First,…
Divorce is one of the most difficult things that someone can experience. Many in the field of psychology rank divorce just behind a spouse’s death on lists of the most…
If a spouse (husband or wife) is ordered by the court to pay alimony but then quits his/her job and then tries to claim “I can’t pay alimony because I…
The overwhelming majority of judges and domestic relations commissioners in Utah will refuse to have the interview of children who are the subject of child custody disputes recorded by sound-and-visual…
"Government ought to be all outside and no inside. . . . Everybody knows that corruption thrives in secret places, and avoids public places, and we believe it a fair…
[Full disclosure: I make no secret of the fact that I have yet to encounter a custody evaluation conducted in Utah that is not pseudo-scientific, incompletely and incompetently documented, and…
Good point, and good question. Although the amount of time fathers are being awarded with their children is increasing in child custody dispute cases (and has been for the past…
I get calls about this frequently from former and from brand new clients: it may have been half a year or more since the child custody case was resolved, either…
Yes, it’s true; this happens sometimes. But more broadly speaking, there are all kinds of situations in divorce where both husbands and wives, fathers and mothers make extortionate deals to…
I cannot answer this question as it applies in all jurisdictions, but I can answer it as it applies in Utah, the jurisdiction where I am licensed to practice divorce…
If there is no court order that addresses and controls the question of who can pick up or drop off the children in connection with custody and parent time exchanges,…
State v. Hughes - 2024 UT App 168 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellee, v. DAYMIAN MARTIEZ HUGHES, Appellant. Opinion No. 20220640-CA Filed November 15, 2024 Third…
I can't speak to what the law is in all jurisdictions, but I can speak to what the law is in Utah on this subject based upon my experience and…
Once I realized that “negotiating trick” is just a synonym for “manipulation,” at best and “fraud” at worst, I stopped employing such tricks in negotiations. You wouldn’t want to be…
How is child support calculated in Utah? How long does child support last? How is child support enforced? How child support in Utah is calculated. I will explain it both…
No. I wish I could tell you that it's worth the risk to show the police a little kindness, but they'll just exploit it. So not merely, no, but hell…
Do you find yourself involved in a child custody dispute (whether in a divorce case or a parentage/paternity action? If so, has your spouse or your attorney may have proposed…
Alimony is not purely a mathematical formula in Utah, but the governing section of the Utah Code (see Section 81-4-502. Determination of alimony) does relay on some basic addition, subtraction, and division. First,…
Do we need laws, given that so many people break them? It's tempting to believe that if we abolished marriage, we would thus get rid of divorce. While that is…
2024 UT App 158 - State v. Campbell THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellee, v. RHUAN CAMPBELL, Appellant. Per Curiam Opinion No. 20230192-CA Filed November 7, 2024 Third…
Your divorce lawyer will tell you about the things you need to do in your case, the documents and other evidence you need to produce, the questions you need to…
Divorce cases are not tried to a jury in any state except one: Texas. In all other states, including Utah, divorce and child custody cases are tried to the bench,…
Know this first: the best things to do are often easier said than done. That stated, they are not that hard to do, but many are not that appealing to…
The Utah courts have created a sizeable library of forms; a few that everyone is required to use, and a lot that can be used--optional, in other words--if one wants.…
In Utah, a parent is not required to have a job and it's likely that a court cannot order a parent to get a job and earn money. If that parent…
What will happen? Who knows? What could happen? The court could A) believe your story; B) not believe your story; or C) not believe your story and then come down…
Many reasons can account for this (in no particular order of prevalence): Bitterness/Sore loser Revenge/trying to set themselves up for a second bite at the apple in a future petition…
We are not meant to be alone. We are meant to be married and to have a family. This is why losing/ending a marriage (and breaking up a family, if…
Answer: Almost certainly no. See Dahl v. Harrison, 265 P.3d 139, 2011 UT App 389 (2011). Note: Under the current Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, responses to written discovery requests are due…
This is not an easy decision to contemplate for most people of your age. If you married in your twenties, then you are likely at least 57 years old when…
Usually painful. Perhaps in some ways that are a little different from the pain one would suffer when divorcing young, but still painful. Retirees suffer a unique pain in the…
Believing that change is inevitable, normal, and survivable. Jonny Thomson made this reel on his Facebook page, “Mini Philosophy,” which I think answers your question about as well as it…
In this KSL.com news article, written by Garna Meijia, reporting on the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) addressed the Rules Review and General Oversight Committee. Please read more…
Yes. Anyone who denies this fact is lying to you. This does not mean that fathers cannot get a fair shake in child custody cases; they can, but most fathers…
Today’s question comes from a viewer of the UFTLV channel who wants to know not only what this term means, but how it is properly pronounced! First, the definition: an…
DIY litigation is difficult in almost every situation. Divorce and family law is no different. You will likely save time and money by hiring a good (a good) attorney in…
Spouses of selfish, intelligent, and manipulative people who want to avoid a messy legal and emotional battle are not telling the whole truth about what they want. Implicit in what…
This is one of the most important questions you need to ask and to answer if you are contemplating divorce or find yourself on the receiving end of a complaint…
I decided to divorce my husband of 10 years after years of neglect and feeling unloved. We have a 6-year-old daughter. For the majority of our marriage I was always…
Over the course of your divorce, you may be tempted to throw in the towel and give up. You may also be tempted to fight to your last breath. Either…
First, for those of you who don’t know what a “narc” is, let’s address that. A “narc” in this context is a narcissistic spouse. Click here for a more detailed…
You’re asking the wrong question first. Your first question should not be, “How long should I wait before I file for a divorce?,” but “*Should* I even file for a…
“Speak your mind—even if your voice shakes. . . . When you least expect it, someone may actually listen to what you have to say.” — Maggie Kuhn I have…
If you were not fortunate enough to settle your divorce case on acceptable terms, you now or soon will likely find yourself preparing for trial. Trial will be the day(s)…
Great question (the answer will likely scare you and drive you nuts, but it’s a great question). Divorce court is, in many respects, the wild west. No matter what jurisdiction…
The legal process of initiating a divorce begins (in the U.S.A.) with filing a lawsuit. A divorce action is a legal action filed in court, just as a lawsuit for…
The legal process of initiating a divorce begins (in the U.S.A.) with filing a lawsuit. A divorce action is a legal action filed in court, just as a lawsuit for…
During the course of a marriage, you will accumulate marital property, and during your divorce, you will need to divide those items. You may be tempted to bicker over every…
Almost all people going through a divorce say they want the case disposed of as soon as possible, but I have found that most people slow the process down for…