What Are the Most Effective Strategies for Parents to Ensure Their Child Feels Equally Loved by Both Parents in a 50-50 Custody Arrangement?

The key is that both parents place the child’s best interest above any bad blood between them; children are more likely to feel secure, loved, and emotionally connected to both…

Continue ReadingWhat Are the Most Effective Strategies for Parents to Ensure Their Child Feels Equally Loved by Both Parents in a 50-50 Custody Arrangement?

In re D.S. – 2023 UT App 98 – reversal of termination of parental rights

In re D.S. - 2023 UT App 98 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF D.S. AND K.S., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. S.S.,…

Continue ReadingIn re D.S. – 2023 UT App 98 – reversal of termination of parental rights

In re K.R. – 2023 UT App 75 – termination of parental rights vs. guardianship

In re K.R. - 2023 UT App 75   THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.R. AND R.B., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…

Continue ReadingIn re K.R. – 2023 UT App 75 – termination of parental rights vs. guardianship

In Re A.H. – 2022 UT App 114 – Termination of Parental Rights

2022 UT App 114 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF A.H., J.H., J.H., L.H., N.H., S.H., AND E.H., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…

Continue ReadingIn Re A.H. – 2022 UT App 114 – Termination of Parental Rights

Widdison v. Widdison – 2022 UT App 46 – custody modification

Widdison v. Widdison - 2022 UT App 46   THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS  NICOLE WIDDISON, Appellant,  LEON BRYANT WIDDISON,  Appellee.  Opinion  No. 20200484-CA  Filed April 7, 2022  Third District…

Continue ReadingWiddison v. Widdison – 2022 UT App 46 – custody modification

In re Z.C. W. – 2021 UT App 98 – Utah Court of Appeals

In re Z.C.W. - 2021 UT App 98  THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS  STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF Z.C.W. AND C.C.W.,  PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.  R.D., Appellant, v.  C.L.W., Appellee.  Opinion  No. 20200039-CA  Filed September 23, 2021  Third District…

Continue ReadingIn re Z.C. W. – 2021 UT App 98 – Utah Court of Appeals

Do you think it’s fair that Brad Pitt got joint custody of his kids? 

Normally, I do not like to comment on the intersection of pop culture and family law because quite often, what happens in a celebrity divorce or child custody dispute does…

Continue ReadingDo you think it’s fair that Brad Pitt got joint custody of his kids? 

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…

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

Should all the kids stay with one parent after a divorce? Why or why not?

I am a divorce and family lawyer. I have been for 23 years. It is impossible to come up with a blanket policy for all children of all parents in…

Continue ReadingShould all the kids stay with one parent after a divorce? Why or why not?

2019 UT App 207 – Peeples v. Peeples – modification of child custody

2019 UT App 207 - THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS ADAM LEGRANDE PEEPLES, Appellee, v. ANNALEISE T. PEEPLES, Appellant. Opinion No. 20180713-CA Filed December 19, 2019 Third District Court, Salt…

Continue Reading2019 UT App 207 – Peeples v. Peeples – modification of child custody

In re C.C.W. – 2019 UT App 34 – termination of parental rights

In re C.C.W. http://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/view.html?court=appopin&opinion=In re C.C.W.20190307_20170360_34.pdf 2019 UT App 34 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS IN THE INTEREST OF C.C.W. AND Z.C.W., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. R.D.T. AND…

Continue ReadingIn re C.C.W. – 2019 UT App 34 – termination of parental rights

My ex is threatening to relocate out of state with our kids!

QUESTION: My ex-wife tonight, in a fit of anger, told me that she is going to move to another state with our kids (her current boyfriend lives there). I’m not…

Continue ReadingMy ex is threatening to relocate out of state with our kids!

I wonder which state in the U.S. has the highest rate of awarding joint physical custody of children in divorce

I wonder which state in the U.S. has the highest rate of awarding joint physical custody of children in divorce. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Utah…

Continue ReadingI wonder which state in the U.S. has the highest rate of awarding joint physical custody of children in divorce