Did you ever go to court and realize for the judges and attorneys it’s kind of all a big game?

Yes, in my experience, there are aspects of the legal system and the practice of law that some lawyers and judges see and treat as a game. You see lawyers…

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Does a spouse have the right to see a DUI report?

Does a spouse have the right to see a DUI report? First, if you are referring to a police report of a DUI citation and/or arrest, in most jurisdictions such…

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If an ex uses illness to stop working, can she get more alimony?

If an ex uses illness to stop working, can she get more alimony? Can being debilitated by illness be a reason for a spouse receiving alimony or more alimony than…

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How do I console a father who has lost custody of his child?

How do I console a father who has lost custody of his child? “He’s [the father who lost custody] permanently damaged.” That’s what someone else wrote in response to your…

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Why is child support and alimony rooted in revenge, power, and humiliation?

Why is child support and alimony rooted in revenge, power, and humiliation? The full question was actually: "Why is child support and alimony rooted in revenge, power, control, and humiliation over…

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Can a divorced spouse claim rights to a previous primary residence?

Can a divorced spouse claim rights to a previous primary residence? A court can, in exceptional circumstances, award a spouse some or all of your premarital and separate property that…

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Can a divorced spouse claim rights to a premarital primary residence?

Can a divorced spouse claim rights to a premarital primary residence? A court can, in exceptional circumstances, award a spouse some or all of your premarital and separate property that…

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If an ex uses illness to stop working, can she get more alimony?

If an ex uses illness to stop working, can she get more alimony? Can being debilitated by illness be a reason for a spouse receiving alimony or more alimony than…

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Good news, for parents deserving of joint equal physical custody

Good news, apparently, for parents deserving of joint equal physical custody of their children but who have, up until now, been fighting an unfair, unnecessarily uphill battle. The Utah Legislature passed,…

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What would you do if your child’s father who is only entitled to supervised visitation filed for a modification of a court order so a family member you don’t approve of could supervise visits?

What would you do if your child's father who is only entitled to supervised visitation filed for a modification of a court order so a family member you don't approve…

Continue ReadingWhat would you do if your child’s father who is only entitled to supervised visitation filed for a modification of a court order so a family member you don’t approve of could supervise visits?

What are tips for parents sharing custody during COVID-19?

What are the different tips for parents sharing custody during this COVID-19? Best tip: don’t use COVID-19 as a pretext for withholding/preventing/sabotaging contact and care and communication between the children…

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Can a mother lose custody even if the child is still very young?

Can a mother lose custody even if the child is still very young? Are there any situations where a mother can lose custody even if their child is still very…

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Judge says stay away from my paramour. Can judge do that?

Judge says stay away from my paramour. Can judge do that? I became pregnant by my paramour after my husband and I separated. The court order states we are not…

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How can you go about child custody when the other parent only wants full custody for the child support benefits and barely is with the child?

How can you go about child custody when the other parent only wants full custody for the child support benefits and barely is with the child? If: you have proof…

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How exactly does shared custody work? Does the child end up being like that kid from Jacqueline Wilson’s “The Suitcase Kid”?

How exactly does shared custody work? Does the child end up being like that kid from Jacqueline Wilson’s "The Suitcase Kid"? The child certainly can be like the child (Andrea) from Jacqueline…

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Being prepared for the parent who tries to interfere with vacations with your kids

Being prepared for the parent who tries to interfere with vacations with your kids Hi Eric,  Every  year I take the kids on a spring break trip, sometimes out of the country. It's been on the…

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How long does it take a divorce to become final if one party is refusing the divorce?

How long does it take a divorce to become final if one party is refusing the divorce? It can take an amazingly, shockingly long time. One of the most frustrating…

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Do prenuptial agreements make a wedding/marriage healthier?

Do prenuptial agreements make a wedding/marriage healthier? Make? In all cases? No. Can prenuptial agreements make a wedding and marriage healthier? It is conceivable that some people might find planning…

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How do lawyers drag out court cases?

How do lawyers drag out court cases? In some respects, the ways are limited only by the power of one’s imagination, but the most common ways I have experienced in…

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Should I pay my lawyer to talk to the attorney of the other party? He spent 3 hours last week responding to 12 emails from the other lawyer and I need to pay him for this time. At this rate I my lawyer will become a secretary and I will be bankrupt.

Should I pay my lawyer to talk to the attorney of the other party? He spent 3 hours last week responding to 12 emails from the other lawyer and I…

Continue ReadingShould I pay my lawyer to talk to the attorney of the other party? He spent 3 hours last week responding to 12 emails from the other lawyer and I need to pay him for this time. At this rate I my lawyer will become a secretary and I will be bankrupt.

What policies and factors determine how child support is calculated?

What policies and factors determine how child support is calculated? This is a good question and a question that many parents ask. Every state in U.S. has child support calculation…

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Why do I pay child support if we have joint custody and we both work?

I know two people that separated and share custody and both have jobs yet he pays child support? How does this work? This is a great question and a question…

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Why is my lawyer ignoring me?

Why is my lawyer ignoring me? There are many possible reasons. Lawyers are notorious for being hard to reach and for being unresponsive and nonresponsive. If you aren’t paying your…

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Do parents who share joint equal custody pay child support?

Do parents who share joint equal physical custody of their children pay child support? If my spouse and I were to agree to share joint equal physical custody (50-50) of…

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S.B. 122 just passed! So what? Joint equal physical custody.

S.B. 122 (4th Substitute) passed by the Utah State Legislature March 5, 2021! Who should care and why? The elephant in the room is this: if there is no gender…

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S.B. 122 passes, despite opposition from the State Bar Family Law Section.

S.B. 122 passes, despite transparently self-serving and disingenuous opposition from the State Bar Family Law Section. The Family Law Section's stated opposition to the first iteration of S.B. 122 and…

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In court cases, how does taking an oath make any difference?

In court cases, how does taking an oath make any difference? From what I can tell, yes, it appears that taking an oath or affirming to tell the truth before…

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How can a uncontested divorce be considered a law suit? Does the court even get involved in that case?

How can a uncontested divorce be considered a law suit? Does the court even get involved in that case? A law suit is a claim or dispute brought to a…

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Do you need a reason to get a divorce?

Do you need a reason to get a divorce? Not really, at least not in the jurisdiction where I practice divorce law (Utah). Even if you get a “no fault”…

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Allen v. Allen – 2021 UT App 20 – custody, alimony, child support

Allen v. Allen - 2021 UT App 20 http://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/view.html?court=appopin&opinion=Allen v. Allen20210225_20190369_20.pdf 2021 UT App 20 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS REBECCA ELLEN ALLEN, Appellee, v. KENT DARIUS ALLEN,Appellant. Opinion No.…

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What are marriages that are exempted from marriage license requirements?

What are marriages that are exempted from marriage license requirements? Technically speaking, the only marriage that could be considered “exempt” from a marriage license requirement (meaning free from the requirement…

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What are suggestions for modifying child custody for an alternating weekend schedule if Monday drop-offs are removed and weekdays are not an option?

What are suggestions for modifying child custody for an alternating weekend schedule if Monday drop-offs are removed and weekdays are not an option? Is this a trick question? Correct me…

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Why do lawyers get paid no matter the results?

Why do lawyers get paid no matter the results? Your question assumes a false fact. Lawyers are not always paid no matter the results. One example is a contingency fee…

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Married a short time. He demands discovery going back years. Can he?

Married a short time. He demands discovery going back years. Can he? Married 16 months. He became abusive almost immediately after. I filed for divorce. He and his attorney is…

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I was divorced and lied to during my divorce and I am disabled can I take my ex back to court for spousal support?

I was divorced and lied to during my divorce and I am disabled can I take my ex back to court for spousal support? Can you try? Yes. Will you…

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Do I have to respond to discovery questions in a divorce?

Do I have to respond to discovery questions in a divorce? Yes, unless you can persuade the court that some or all of the discovery requests: violate the rules governing discovery, such…

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Are all lawyers psychopaths? What is it like to be a divorce lawyer?

Are all lawyers psychopaths? No, although social science research repeatedly finds that law is one of the top professions to which psychopaths are drawn (it’s #1 or #2 on most…

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Why is it difficult for a father to get child custody?

Why is it difficult for a father to get child custody? Because there is a pernicious and false belief in far too many of the courts (not, notably, in society…

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I was divorced and lied to during my divorce and I am disabled can I take my ex back to court for spousal support?

I was divorced and lied to during my divorce and I am disabled can I take my ex back to court for spousal support? Can you try? Yes. Will you…

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If I can’t find an attorney, can it honestly be said I got a fair trial?

If I can’t find an attorney, can it honestly be said I got a fair trial? If a person seeks legal representation in a court, and every attorney they tries…

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Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court?

Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court (pro se)? Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court?…

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Are there laws that protect one parent from being a victim of the other parent’s continuous reporting, through the other parent’s attorney, about violations of a restraining order that are all lies?

Are there laws that protect one parent from being a victim of the other parent's continuous reporting, through the other parent's attorney, about violations of a restraining order that are…

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Thomas v. Thomas – 2021 UT App – contempt, modification of custody

Thomas v. Thomas - 2021 UT App 2021 UT App 8 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JEREMY THOMAS, Appellant, v. JODY TASKER THOMAS, Appellee. Opinion No. 20190242-CA Filed January 22,2021…

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What are the Steps for Getting Divorced in Utah?

What are the Steps for Getting Divorced in Utah? To start the divorce process, you must begin by filing what is called a complaint or a petition for divorce with…

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2020 UT App 171 – Miller v. Miller THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS RYAN MILLER, Appellant, v. BRENDA MILLER, Appellee

2020 UT App 171 - Miller v. Miller THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS RYAN MILLER, Appellant, BRENDA MILLER, Appellee. Opinion No. 20190748-CA Filed December 24, 2020 Second District Court, Farmington…

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Are older lawyers better?

Are older lawyers better? If by “older” you mean lawyers who are not fresh out of law school, the answer is: almost always yes. They don’t teach you how to…

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GALs/custody evaluators waste money/time compared to judge interview

GALs and custody evaluators waste too much money and time, and can never provide the same accuracy as a judge’s direct interview of the child. This post is the fifteenth…

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