See Clearly to Succeed in Divorce
Click here to see what a flower looks like to a human eye and to see what the same flower looks like to a honeybee’s eyes. How you perceive the…
Is 50/50 custody likely when the parents live in the same neighborhood?
What is the likelihood of reverting to 50/50 custody when the parents live in the same neighborhood? Mom still cares for the child over 80% Your question states in part,…
Do I have to pay the court to go to trial?
Do I have to pay the court to go to trial? I am a divorce and family lawyer. I was asked this question and was a little surprised that this…
How do you get pet custody after a breakup?
I cannot speak on what the law is in every jurisdiction, but according to Utah (Utah is where I practice divorce and family law), the answers are: If by “breakup”…
What can I do if my ex won’t stop taking me to court?!
My ex has been taking me to court for over 4 years to get my joint custody taken away. Her father worked for the courts for 25 years so she…
How do you change the name on a deed after a divorce?
In Utah (where I practice divorce and family law), there is more than one way to transfer title to the marital home (assuming the parties own a home), but the…
How long do you pay alimony in Utah?
The law governing the duration of alimony is pretty simple and straightforward: See Utah Code § 30-3-5, subsections (1)(c) and (11)(e): (1) As used in this section: ***** (c) "Length…
How long do you pay alimony in Utah?
In Utah, the law governing the duration of alimony is pretty simple and straightforward: See Utah Code § 30-3-5, subsections (1)(c) and (11)(e), which provides: (1) As used in this…
When are my ex’s things deemed abandoned?
I was awarded the house in the divorce. My ex’s things are still here and he/she won’t pick them up. When are they deemed abandoned? Utah Code § 67-4a-201 provides,…
Is child marriage legal in the United States?
Of a sort, and depending upon the particular state, yes. In some places children (minor children, those who are by law deemed incapable of consenting to marry) can marry with…
New Laws Affecting Utah Divorce and Family Law in 2022
Here is a summary of new law affecting divorce and family law that was created by the Utah State Legislature in 2022: HB (House Bill) 122 1st Substitute, entitled “Family…
How difficult is it to get a divorce from a spouse who has disappeared?
How difficult is it to get a divorce from a spouse who disappeared +10 years back? No note, no trace, no explanation. If you urgently need to remarry, what processes…
What are the primary parenting issues of concern by the court?
What are the primary concerns of the courts in determining parenting issues? Why? In Utah (and in no particular order), the court must consider the factors articulated in these sections…
What can you do if your ex-husband does not want to pay school fees?
What can you do if your husband does not want to pay school fees for his children when you are divorced? First, it is not necessarily a given that a…
What is MyCase and why should I care?
MyCase is an online system developed by the Utah State Courts system that you can sign up for free of charge and use in your family law case and certain…
If you get a divorce but everything is in your name, do you have to split it?
If you get a divorce but everything is in your name, do you get to keep everything or do you have to split it? I will answer your question in…
Taylor v. Taylor 2022 UT 35 – Divorce Arbitration
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH DAVID JENKINS TAYLOR, Appellant, v. JILL MARIE TAYLOR, Appellee. No. 20191090 Heard: April 13, 2022 Filed August 18, 2022 On Certification…
Do you think it’s fair for a non-custodial parent to pay more child support?
Do you think it's acceptable for the non-custodial parent to have to pay more child support because the custodial parent chooses to barely work or not work at all? Generally,…
Can someone legally move out without notice and turn off utilities?
The judge finalized our divorce a month ago. My ex-husband decided to move out without any notice and then he turned off all utilities service. Can he legally do that…
Is it illegal for a lawyer to charge their ex client for a copy of their case file?
Is there anything illegal about a previous lawyer wanting to charge their ex client for a copy of their case file? I can’t answer for all jurisdictions, but in Utah…
Can a parent with full custody deny visitation due to unsanitary conditions?
Can a parent with full custody refuse to allow visitation due to unsanitary living conditions? Good question. I will answer this question in the context of some applicable law for…
Is it possible to get court transcripts for custody hearings?
Every jurisdiction is different regarding which court hearings are open to the public and whether recordings of their proceedings are available to the public or even to the parties’ themselves. …
Can I gain full custody if I’m bipolar?
I don't want anything to do with my child's father. Can I gain full custody if I'm bipolar? First, thank you for being so candid and blunt. This is a…
Can you go back to your ex-spouse after a divorce?
Yes, there is no law (I know of in any jurisdiction of which I am aware, but check in your jurisdiction to be sure) against a divorced couple resuming a…
Are divorce records public?
I cannot speak for all jurisdictions, but for the jurisdiction where I practice divorce law the answer is “yes”. See Utah Code § 30-3-4(2)(b): §30-3-4. Pleadings--Decree--Use of affidavit--Private records (b)…
Is there anything that can surprise a judge during a divorce proceeding?
Is there anything that can surprise a judge during a contested divorce proceeding? Of course. We’ve all read about cases where all of the circumstantial evidence indicated the defendant is…
Can you get a post-judgment interest rate higher than the statutory rate?
Did you know you can request a post-judgment interest rate that is higher than the default statutory rate? It’s true. While the court does not have the discretion to lower,…
How do you prove duress in a divorce?
I will answer your question in the context of Utah law because I practice divorce and family law in the state of Utah. First, here is how duress is defined…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 51
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 51: Should you be a legal assistant? By Quinton Lister, legal assistant One question you might be asking yourself if you…
Can I get an annulment instead of a divorce?
Many people call me asking about whether they can get an annulment instead of a divorce. Their reasons are almost always the same: "I would prefer to say that I…
How easy is it to change your child’s last name?
I cannot answer this question as it applies in all jurisdictions, but I can answer the question as it applies in the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and family law…
How can I help my stepdaughter get away from an abusive mother?
How can I help my 12-year-old step daughter get away from an emotionally abusive mother? Tell the child’s father (your husband) about the trouble and have him handle it. It’s…
Is appointing a guardian ad litem helpful in custody cases?
Is appointing a guardian ad litem a positive tool to help with custody cases? [I will respond to your question based upon my experience with guardians ad litem in Utah,…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 44: Mountains
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant One prominent geographical feature of Utah (where I am a legal assistant for a divorce attorney) is the mountains that surround the cities and towns…
What should the child support award be if my ex makes $1,200 per week?
Should I be receiving more than $300 a month in child support if my ex-husband makes $1,200 per week? Each jurisdiction has different child support laws and rules, but I…
What is a CMA?
This blog post was written by a real estate agent for us. CMA stands for Comparative Market Analysis and is a report meant to reflect the market value of a…
Can I force my spouse to divorce me?
I know of no legal way to force your spouse to filed for divorce against you, but you may not be aware of the fact that your spouse cannot prevent…
Can a parent take kids out of state while divorce is pending?
Can a parent who has filed for divorce and moved out with her 2 children now take her children for a week to another state for Thanksgiving, or will it be…
How long after my divorce am I considered single?
I can’t speak for all jurisdictions, but for the jurisdiction where I practice divorce law (Utah), the answer is that you are considered single as soon as the court issues…
In a divorce, should children live with their favorite parent?
I can’t speak for all jurisdictions, but I can tell you that in the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and family law (Utah), currently the child’s preference for one parent…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 40
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 40: Recording family law hearings By Quinton Lister, legal assistant My time as a legal assistant to a divorce and family…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 39: Judges, part III
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant For those following along at home, you are aware that I have posted about judges before. Through the course of my current employment as a…
How easy is it to change your child’s last name?
I cannot answer this question as it applies in all jurisdictions, but I can answer the question as it applies in the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and family law…
Do I need to show up for court if I was never served papers?
Do I need to show up for court if I was never served papers? I live in South Carolina. I cannot speak for or about the jurisdiction of South Carolina…
Our agreement says no child support, can my ex ask for it anyway?
Can my ex ask for child support? I have a 50/50 custody and no child support divorce agreement, but his mother alienated him against me and now he refuses to visit…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 35: International Law
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant In light of recent events in Russia and Ukraine, I have been thinking a lot about the nature of international law. In situations like these,…
Does Utah ORS collect childcare by garnishing a paycheck?
Does the Utah Office of Recovery Services (ORS) collect childcare monthly reimbursement by garnishing a paycheck like it can to collect monthly child support? No. ORS does and cannot collect…
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 34: Electing judges
Law from a legal assistant’s point of view, week 34: Electing judiciary officials By Quinton Lister, legal assistant I mentioned in a previous post that if I were to build…
Must I hand a cop my license, or just show it?
I get this question a lot, and frankly, I am curious to know the answer myself: If you have a dedicated sleeve in your wallet that holds your driver license…
Do I need to show up for court if I was never served papers?
Do I need to show up for court if I was never served papers? I live in South Carolina. I cannot speak for or about the jurisdiction of South Carolina…