Can My Spouse Keep My Property After I Have Been Removed or Moved Out of the Marital Home? By Braxton Mounteer

This is a common and important question that arises in a divorce. If you are out of the marital home—whether by court order (such as a protective order) or voluntarily—and…

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Beverlin v. Beverlin – 2025 UT App 72 – appeal, alimony, attorney fees

Beverlin v. Beverlin - 2025 UT App 72 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STEVEN K. BEVERLIN, Appellee, v. GAIL W. BEVERLIN, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230597-CA Filed May 22, 2025 Second…

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Should You Depose Your Spouse During Your Divorce Case? By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

One of the best evidence-gathering tools that a divorce litigant has at his/her disposal is a deposition. What is a deposition?  To answer that question, you first need to understand that a…

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Having Experienced 50-50 Custody as a Child to Teen, What Do You Want Parents to Know?

Simply put, normal children of divorced or separated parents want their parents: not to make custody a turf war. Honor your children’s right to a strong loving and trusting, relationship…

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Protecting Yourself From a Spouse Who Has No Regard for Ethics, the Law, or Morality. By Braxton Mounteer

A fair and equitable divorce is the best that any decent person who goes through the divorce process can honestly hope for. If you know you that you will be dealing…

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Does Utah Law Require Divorced or Single Parents to Pay Child Support in the Form of College Tuition?

Does Utah law require divorced or single parents to pay child support in the form of college tuition for their children? Require it? No. Utah does not require divorced or single…

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Divorce Listings & Property Condition: Why It Matters More Than Ever

As you know, we’re operating in a drastically different real estate market than we were even a year ago — and it’s impacting divorcing homeowners in unique and challenging ways.…

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Why Collaborative Divorce Usually Isn’t Worth It

In theory, collaborative divorce sounds ideal. What is "collaborative divorce"? The two spouses discuss together with their lawyers, mental health professional, financial specialist, and sometimes a child psychologist or development specialist…

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What are some good (and bad) reasons for changing one’s divorce lawyer mid-case?

Are there any potential drawbacks to switching lawyers, besides the added expenses and inconvenience? There are good reasons to switch lawyers, even if you realize this mid-case. That stated, there…

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Is Alimony off the Table Here?

My wife had an affair, got caught when she got pregnant by her lover, and then separated from me to move in with him. She had the baby and she…

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Conflicting Advice

Conflicting Advice Divorce is many people’s first and only experience with serious civil litigation. Many divorce clients can’t believe how different (and how much more disappointing) the legal system is…

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Don’t Play Dirty in Divorce Just Because Your Spouse Does By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

We’ve all heard some version of this story: the dramatic, knock-down, drag-out divorce. Where every move is a power play and every lawyer is part strategist, part saboteur. If you're…

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What does “child support” mean in Utah?

There are actually three different but related types of child support in Utah for divorced and unmarried parents who obtain child support orders either through administrative means or through a…

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How to Identify and Avoid Some Common Dirty Tricks in Divorce Cases. By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

Some spouses will absolutely exploit the legal system to gain an unfair advantage in divorce proceedings. It's crucial to recognize the manipulative tactics your spouse might employ against you—even if…

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The Case for Fault-Based Divorce: A Perspective from the Trenches of Family Law

As a legal assistant at a family law firm (and as a soon to be law school graduate), I see firsthand how the current no-fault divorce regime can create problems…

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How to Be a Good Client in Your Utah Divorce Case

Divorce is for most people a very stressful and emotional process. If you are ready to hire a divorce attorney, knowing how to approach working with your attorney can significantly…

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After Divorce, My Ex Uses Parental Controls to Spy on My Parenting Time. Can Tech Custody Agreements Exist?

Yes, they can. Not merely agreements, but binding and enforceable court orders can be made by the court to address such an issue too. They are hard to enforce (because…

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Should You Get Divorced? Weighing Your Options in a Difficult Decision By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

The decisions to marry and to end a marriage are not decisions to be taken lightly. If divorce is ever an easy choice, something is terribly wrong. Wrong with the…

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My Husband Cheated on Me Multiple Times. We Don’t Have Any Children. I Want to File for Divorce and Seek Alimony. What Should I Do?

Find the best lawyer you can and start there; meet with a skilled, diligent, honest lawyer and find out about the divorce process, it’s benefits and detriments, its risks and…

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How Do You Combat a Narcissistic Husband Who Isolates Your Child During a Divorce?

Warning: my answer is blunt, and it is directed primarily at women/mothers who make (or contemplate making) false claims, but even if you are not making or contemplating making a…

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The Risk and Costs of Asking for a Deadline Extension in Your Divorce By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

If (or when) you find yourself in the midst of a divorce, you will likely feel like you're caught in a whirlwind of different forces pushing and pulling on you.…

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Protecting Yourself Against Overcharges by a Divorce Lawyer By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

Divorce is stressful enough without the added burden of legal fees and worrying about them. So how do you know if you’re being overcharged by your divorce lawyer? Unclear or…

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When Contemplating Divorce, Advance Research, Analysis, and Planning Will Be a Tremendous Help to You, Your Family, and to Your Attorney

Several important provisions are frequently overlooked in divorce decrees, despite their significant impact on post-divorce life. If you are contemplating divorce, but have not considered these issues yet, thinking them…

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How Much Should You Interact with Your Divorce Lawyer? A Pragmatic Guide By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

Divorce confronts one with many complex issues, emotional strain, uncertain outcomes, and often gut-wrenching decisions. One question that most divorcing people do not consider when they retain the services of…

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How Should I Communicate With My Spouse During the Pendency of Divorce Proceedings?

This is an extremely good question because I am amazed (as a divorce and family lawyer who has been in practice for 28 years) how divorcing couples and parents communicate…

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My Dad and I Want Changes to My Child Custody Orders. Dad Says It Will Be Months Before a New Order Can Be Written. Is That Right?

Probably. If your question is, “Does it take a long time to obtain a court order modifying a child custody award?,” the answer is, generally, “Yes.” I can't speak for…

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How to Tell Your Kids About Divorce: A Unified Approach By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

Divorce is hard enough on spouses, but perhaps the most painful impact is on their children. The last thing you should do is create confusion, fear, and emotional scars in…

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It Tolls for Thee: The All Too Frequent Tragic Cost and Futility of Family Court

“Quid rides? Mutato nomine et de te fabula narrator. [Why do you laugh ? Change only the name and this story is about you.]” Here’s a deeply disturbing but all…

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How Do You Fight an Attorney Who Keeps Asking for and Obtaining Continuances in a Family Court Case?

An unscrupulous opposing party and his/her attorney can find many benefits to delaying the progress of a pending court case, so it comes as no surprise if and when you…

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Divorce Is Too Often Like A Knife Fight By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

Why is divorce so often like a knife fight? Not a literal one, of course, but a figurative battle where the first move can have lasting—often devastating—consequences. Have you ever…

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Who Should You Call as a Witness in Your Divorce Trial? By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

When it comes to divorce trials, one of the most pivotal decisions you’ll make is who to call as a witness. Testimony from well-chosen witnesses can offer critical insights into…

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Krajeski v. Krajeski – 2025 UT App 19 – Separate vs. Marital property

Krajeski v. Krajeski - 2025 UT App 19 Oral argument (Utah Court of Appeals archive): https://youtu.be/LoIy9N8wThc THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS TAMI KRAJESKI, Appellee, v. DAVID L. KRAJESKI, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230174-CA…

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Should You Forgive Your Spouse for Cheating? It’s Not That Simple. By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

There’s no sugarcoating it—infidelity, cheating in a marriage is devastating for most people. It rocks the foundation of everything you’ve built together. It’s the kind of betrayal that makes you question…

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Can I Buy a House Before or While Going Through a Divorce? Should I?

We won’t keep you in suspense: yes, you might be able to buy a house before or during the pendency of a divorce case. However, in most cases, you should not.…

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Is Therapy Necessary in Utah Divorce?: What You Should Consider

Therapy in the context of this post means “mental health therapy”; meeting with a licensed talking with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or another mental health provider. This kind of therapy is…

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How Does Fraudulently Filing for a Protective Order Often Give the Applicants an Insurmountable Unfair Advantage in a Divorce or Child Custody Case?

By exploiting legal mechanisms designed to protect actual victims, here are ways that fraudulently seeking a protective order can create an unfair advantage: Immediate Restriction on Contact and Access Temporary…

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The Difference Between Reunification Therapy and Family Systems Therapy By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

Families often find themselves having to confront their conflict and dysfunction when a divorce is filed. When families face conflict or dysfunction, therapy can (can, not always will, but can)…

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The Pros and Cons of Having Your Spouse Investigated by a Private Investigator During a Divorce in Utah. By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

Many individuals in a divorce consider hiring a private investigator, hoping to uncover information that could affect the outcome of the case. While hiring a private investigator (PI) may seem…

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The Prejudicial Impact of False Abuse Accusations on Husbands and Fathers in Utah Divorce and Custody Disputes

Child custody disputes between parents (whether in a divorce case or between unmarried parents) are among the most bitterly fought cases, as parents fight over the right to be integral…

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The Overreach of Utah Courts in Ordering Therapy in Divorce and Child Custody Cases

In contemporary Utah divorce and child custody disputes, courts frequently order parents and children to participate in reunification therapy, family systems therapy, or other forms of therapy and counseling. While…

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Timeline of a Typical Utah Divorce Case: From Start to Finish

While every divorce case is unique, the following outlines the general stages and timeframes involved in a Utah divorce case. Understanding the basic timeline of a typical case in Utah…

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What Is the Real Reason Divorce Rates Are So High in the Western World?

So many in the Western world who could be happily married have lost sight of the purpose of marriage, and so their marriages end in divorce not because of any…

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What Should I Do if My Husband Wants to Divorce Me for Not Giving Him Children?

There is not much you can do to deny a spouse a divorce, if one lives in the U.S. Spouses in the U.S. can file for and obtain a divorce…

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Should You File an Appeal in Your Divorce Case, If You Are Not Happy with the Result at Trial? By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

There are a few things that you should be aware of before you decide to pull the trigger on filing an appeal on the outcome of your divorce trial. First,…

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Your divorce Case Deadlines Will Not Wait By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant.

Divorce is one of the most difficult things that someone can experience. Many in the field of psychology rank divorce just behind a spouse’s death on lists of the most…

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Excluding the Public from Divorce Court Hearings and Trials Does More Harm than Good

"Government ought to be all outside and no inside. . . . Everybody knows that corruption thrives in secret places, and avoids public places, and we believe it a fair…

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When Should You Get a Lawyer to Look At Your Case?

Any old lawyer to look at your case? Well, if you can’t find a good lawyer who is skilled in the area of the law affecting you, it may (may)…

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Small v. Small – 2024 UT App 173 URE 408 and statute of frauds

Small v. Small - 2024 UT App 173 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS NATHAN DALE SMALL, Appellant, v. TRISHA DAWN SMALL, Appellee. Opinion No. 20230487-CA Filed November 29, 2024 First…

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