How did your parents’ divorce when you were a child affect your adult life?
My parents did not divorce, but I base my answer to this question on the experiences of my clients, whether it be how their own children reacted to their divorce…
Why do abusers sometimes get custody of their children?
Simply (but accurately) put: they may intimidate, shame, and/or fool the other party into settling the custody case such that they agree to the abuser being awarded custody ; their…
Eberhard v. Eberhard – 2019 UT App 114 – modification of alimony
2019 UT App 114 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS TODD EBERHARD, Appellant, v. LORI ANN EBERHARD, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170721-CA Filed June 27, 2019 Third District Court, Salt Lake Department…
Hypothetically speaking, would you divorce over adultery, if you have kids?
Not simply because of an affair, no. It is certainly understandable if one desires to divorce a spouse who has committed adultery. The law understands this as well, which is…
After a divorce, is joint residential custody better or worse for the children?
Let’s indulge an analogy to answer this question. Is sugar good for you, or bad for you? It depends upon the circumstances. An occasional slice of cake or pie is…
Is there a “statute of limitations” for seeking child support?
In Utah, yes: Utah Code § 78B-15-109. Limitation on recovery from the obligor. The obligor's liabilities for past support are limited to the period of four years preceding the commencement of…
We Can Work It Out
Could a prolonged lack of exercise exacerbate anxieties and stress, even cause them to accumulate? Could this ultimately result in increased marital conflict? Is your husband angry and/or aggressive? Exercise…
Janson v. Janson – 2019 UT App 106 – setting aside settlement agreement
2019 UT App 106 - Janson v. Janson - setting aside stipulation THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DEIDRE SUE JANSON, Appellant, v. JEFFREY ALAN JANSON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170541-CA Filed…
Is there a “statute of limitations” for seeking child support?
I can’t speak for all states, but I can answer the question for the state where I practice law (Utah): Utah Code § 78B-15-109. Limitation on recovery from the obligor.…
In re adoption of B.H. – 2019 UT App 103 – UCCJEA and ICPC
In re adoption of B.H. 2019 UT App 103 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF B.H., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.P.H. AND…
Why do some narcissist men not want a woman who works and try to keep her from working?
The answer to your question lies, in part, in the question itself. The dictionary defines narcissism as “selfishness, involving a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need…
Wollsieffer v. Wollsieffer – 2019 UT App 99 – modifying child support
THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS BURRIS WOLLSIEFFER, Appellant, v. HEATHER WOLLSIEFFER, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170645-CA Filed June 6, 2019 Third District Court, Salt Lake Department The Honorable Matthew Bates No.…
Why do some narcissist men not want a woman who works and try to keep her from working?
The answer to your question lies, in part, in the question itself. The dictionary defines narcissism as “selfishness, involving a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need…
My ex told me I can’t post videos of our children on my social media. What can I do?
I'm a mother of 3. The father has custody and I have visits and overnights. The father told me not to post videos of our children on my social media,…
2018 UT App 181 – Chaparro v. Torero – default judgment, findings of fact, child custody
2018 UT App 181 – Chaparro v. Torero THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS ELDA CHAPARRO, Appellant, v. ENRIQUE TORERO, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170494-CA Filed September 20, 2018 Second District Court,…
Nebeker v. Orton – 2019 UT App 23 – child custody and parent-time
Nebeker v. Orton - 2019 UT App 23 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS SHANE NEBEKER, Appellant, v. TRISHA ANN ORTON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170438-CA Filed February 14, 2019 Sixth District…
Plan a Parenting Schedule That Works for Your Family – by Ryan Howard
Published with permission and by request of the author: https://smartparentadvice.com/parenting-schedule/
2019 UT App 83 – Nave Free v. Free – modification of child support
2019 UT App 83 – Nave Free v. Free THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS LINDA LEE NAVE-FREE, Appellee, WENLOCK DUANE FREE JR., Appellant. Opinion No. 20170751-CA Filed May 16, 2019…
2019 UT App 82 – Blocker v. Blocker – terminating supervised parent-time
2019 UT App 82 – Blocker v. Blocker THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS KIRSTEEN DIDI BLOCKER, Appellee, MICHAEL PHILLIP BLOCKER, Appellant. Opinion No. 20170167-CA Filed May 16, 2019 Fourth District…
How can I get a divorce if I don’t know where my spouse is?
If I'm married with a child (separated for 4 years), how do I get a divorce and establish a child support order, if I don't know where my spouse is?…
Do I need a separate room for my daughter?
As a single father I can only afford a one bedroom apartment for me and daughter, what alternatives do we have? Most courts will not penalize you for having a…
If my spouse cheats, and we divorce will I get custody of my children?
In response to the question, “If my spouse cheats, and we divorce, will I get custody of the children because of my spouse’s infidelity?,” the answer is unequivocally “no.” No…
Have you ever dealt with parental alienation?
Yes, but from the perspective of being the divorce lawyer for the alienated parent. Let me tell you, unless the alienating parent is so ham-handed in his or her efforts…
What’s the best way to decide who takes the children when a couple splits?
I’ll tell you one thing, it’s not the illusory “standard” (that’s not really a standard in the first place) of the “best interest of the child” that everybody talks about.…
Cox v. Hefley 2019 UT App 60 – attorney consent or consultation, third party decision-maker
2019 UT App 60 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS CAMERON MICHAEL COX, Appellee, v. PAIGE CHARISSA HEFLEY, Appellant. Opinion No. 20170903-CA Filed April 18, 2019 Second District Court, Ogden Department…
Is financial turmoil the cause of divorce?
Probably not. While many divorces arise over money troubles (too little money, which places an unbearable strain on the marriage), money can’t be the primary cause of divorce. Divorce is too often…
What is the safest way to break up with an abusive partner?
What is the safest way to break up with an abusive partner? I heard many horror stories and afraid I might be next. While there is no one "proper" way…
Can I Get the Court to Force My NPD Spouse to Be Tested?
Should I attempt to / is it possible to have my court order my NPD to undergo psychological testing before he can get access to our child? First, let’s break…
Dealing with Your Spouse During the Divorce Process
QUESTION: What are some pointers that you may have in getting along with your ex-spouse to be during the process of a divorce? What advice do you have to keep…
LeFevre v. Mackelprang – 2019 UT App 42 – joint custody analysis
2019 UT App 42 - THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS - LeFevre v. Mackelprang AMELIA GAYATREE LEFEVRE, Appellee, v. CASEY LEE MACKELPRANG, Appellant. Opinion No. 20171006-CA Filed March 28, 2019…
Good and Bad Advice About Preparing for Mediation
There's a lot of advice on how to prepare for and go to mediation successfully. But how good is the advice? Let's find out. Read this article about how to…
Marroquin v. Marroquin – 2019 UT App 38 – business valuation, findings
Marroquin v Marroquin - 2019 UT App 38 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS HEATHER MARROQUIN, Appellant, v. RENSON AMILICAR MARROQUIN, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170454-CA Filed March 14, 2019 Third District…
Can an abortion be claimed as grounds for divorce?
Not directly. While “my wife had an abortion” is not grounds for divorce, you can claim that the abortion led to irreconcilable differences between you and your wife, and irreconcilable…
Nebeker v. Orton – 2019 UT App 23 – custody and parent-time
2019 UT App 23 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS SHANE NEBEKER, Appellant, v. TRISHA ANN ORTON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20170438-CA Filed February 14, 2019 Sixth District Court, Richfield Department The…
At what age can children decide which parent they want to live with?
It’s largely a matter of age and size/strength or resourcefulness. Technically a child never legally has the power to choose with which parent he/she will live (the only person with…
If it’s so terrible to separate children from parents at the border, why is it so acceptable to separate children and parents in divorce?
If it's so terrible to separate children from parents at the border, why is it so acceptable to separate children and parents in divorce? Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com…
What useful things can Jeff Bezos’s divorce can teach us
Question: Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and wife MacKenzie are divorcing. Who do you think will get the custody of their 4 kids? I don’t know enough about the family’s circumstances…
Hartvigsen v. Hartvigsen – 2018 UT App 238 – alimony, marital property
2018 UT App 238 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DANIELLE MARIE HARTVIGSEN, Appellant, v. RICHARD MYERS HARTVIGSEN, Appellee. Opinion No. 20160069-CA Filed December 28, 2018 Fourth District Court, Provo Department…
Have we reached the point where mothers are not immediately deemed the best candidates for child custody?
Almost, but not yet. Until recently, it wasn’t just a cultural norm, but a legal principle that presumed during a child's "tender" years (generally regarded as the age of four…
What can you do when the system is clearly against you?
What are options for a parent who’s ex works the judicial system with the purpose of making the parent miserable? Said parent is losing time with her child because her…
Is it ever a good idea to postpone a divorce for the ‘children’s sake’?
Ever? Certainly. Always? No. (and remember: though I’m a divorce lawyer, that does not mean I am a raving fan of divorce. I’m not. Rarely does even the “best divorce”…
Morality Clause: Can Include One in My Decree of Divorce?
Can I successfully put a morality clause in a custody agreement to prevent my child from a living arrangement where my ex is living with a girlfriend? This practice is…
When did you realize that fighting for your marriage was useless?
When did you realize that fighting for your marriage was useless? Many people ask me questions about “my” divorce. I am not divorced, I never have been, and (God willing),…
Child Custody: what does it mean in divorce, and what factors determine who gets child custody?
One of the biggest worries (perhaps the biggest) for a parent going through divorce is the question of child custody. A common misperception is that “child custody” means simply who…
Why are there no penalties for false allegations in divorce and custody issues?
Why are there no penalties for false allegations in divorce and custody issues? First, there are penalties meted out; in my opinion few (far too few) in law enforcement, child…
Should all spousal support/alimony be revoked?
Should all spousal support/alimony be revoked? No, but I wouldn’t be upset if it was largely overhauled to reflect circumstances as they are now. Because originally wives didn’t get half…
Can I still get custody or visitation, even if my spouse got a protective order against me?
My husband placed a protection order on me and my son’s name is on it, we are in the divorce process, is it possible that I can still get custody…
What has been your experience with a grownup only child as a spouse, or partner?
What has been your experience with a grownup only child as a spouse, or partner? Clearly, the likelihood of being: more self-centered, less socialized, less accustomed to living in tight…
In your experience, how often do divorces get resolved “amicably” after being filed in court?
Some couples actually realize that while their marriage is a failure, that does not mean that they are bad people. They can care enough about each other to divorce amicably.…
As a man, what steps can I take to safeguard my interests before telling my wife I want a divorce?
As a man, what steps can I take to safeguard my interests before telling my wife I want a divorce? There are two types of men who ask this question:…