In re I.C. – 2025 UT App 20 – thinking of smuggling a child instead of adoption?

In re I.C. - 2025 UT App 20 2025 UT App 20 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF I.C., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS…

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Proposed Utah Family Law Legislation I’m Following During the 2025 Session

There are many bills before the Utah Legislature during their 2025 session that I’m particularly interested in and that I am following. One of them is House Bill 33. HB…

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In re K.M. – 2025 UT App 17 – parents regaining custody from guardian

In re K.M. - 2025 UT App 17 Oral argument (Utah Court of Appeals archive): https://youtu.be/e8OUzlARvZk THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS IN THE INTEREST OF K.M., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN…

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In re J.M. – 2024 UT App 147 – Termination of Parental Rights

In re J.M. - 2024 UT App 147 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF J.M., S.M., L.M., AND J.A.M., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. N.M., Appellant, V. STATE OF UTAH, Appellee. Opinion…

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KSL News Story “Child and Family Services speaks to lawmakers after 12-year-old’s death”

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…

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Divorce and Revenge, by Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant.

People divorce for many different reasons, but regardless of the reason or reasons for seeking a divorce, the dissolution of a marriage and the breakup of a family usually causes…

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In re K.B – 2024 UT App 114 – Termination of Parental Rights

In re K.B - 2024 UT App 114 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.B., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. M.B., Appellant, v.…

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2024 UT App 104 – In re B.D. – What is a dependent child?

2024 UT App 104 - In re B.D. THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF B.D., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. N.D., Appellant,…

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CPS Has Encouraged Parental Alienation Before My Parental Rights Have Been Taken, My Public Defender Has Not Been Representing Me the Way He Was Supposed to Be, but I Didn’t Know Until Now. What Can I Do?

There are plenty of things you can do (plenty of activity in which you can engage), but whether any of it will do any good is the question. The answer…

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House Bill 129 Child Support Requirements

Today’s blog post treats another proposed law that is up for consideration during the 2024 Utah legislative session: House Bill 129 (HB0129 (utah.gov)), entitled “Child Support Requirements”. This bill would,…

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In re H.M. – 2023 UT App 122 – termination of parental rights

In re H.M. - 2023 UT App 122 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF H.M. AND D.M., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. G.B., Appellant, v.…

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In re M.S. – 2023 UT App 74

In re M.S. - 2023 UT App 74 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF M.S., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. R.S. AND…

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State in Interest of P.J.R., 2023 UT App 27

THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF P.J.R., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. C.S., Appellant, V. STATE OF UTAH, Appellee. Opinion No. 20220264-CA…

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State In Interest of B.W. – 2022 UT App 131

State In Interest of B.W. - 2022 UT App 131 Court of Appeals of Utah. STATE of Utah, IN the INTEREST OF B.W., J.W., and N.W., persons under eighteen years…

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In Re K.T. 2023 UT App 5 – Substantiation of Child Abuse

2023 UT App 5 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.T., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. J.K., Appellant, v. STATE OF UTAH,…

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In Utah is there a minimum age at which minor children can be left at home or allowed to walk to school by themselves?

No. There is no minimum age at which child can be left unsupervised in Utah. Child and Family Services uses the following definition to evaluate each situation: Non-Supervision – The…

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In re A.H. – 2021 UT App 57, Ineffective Assistance, Reasonable Efforts

ttps://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/In%20re%20A.H...20210528_20190846_57.pdf  In re A.H. - 2021 UT App 57  THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS  STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF A.H. AND N.H., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.  K.H., Appellant,  v.  STATE OF UTAH, Appellee.  Opinion  No. 20190846-CA  Filed…

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Do you automatically lose your kid if CPS takes you to court?

No, but if CPS or DCFS or DFS or whatever your jurisdiction calls that particular agency of the state filed an action in court to place your children in foster…

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What to do before a divorce, if you’re not in the wrong

What advice would you give someone before a divorce, if it’s known it may happen and you’re not in the wrong? This is a very important question that too few…

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2020 UT App 35 – V.M. v. Division of Child and Family Services

2020 UT App 35 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS V.M., Appellant, v. DIVISION OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, Appellee. Opinion No. 20180906-CA Filed March 5, 2020 Fourth District Juvenile Court,…

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2019 UT App 208 – In re E.R. – termination of parental rights

2019 UT App 208 - THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF E.R., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. J.R., Appellant, v. STATE OF…

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