Do we need laws, given that so many people break them? It's tempting to believe that if we abolished marriage, we would thus get rid of divorce. While that is…
Chlarson v. Chlarson - 2024 UT App 160 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JUSTIN THOMAS CHLARSON, Appellant, v. JACQUELINE NICOLE CHLARSON, Appellee. Opinion No. 20230742-CA Filed November 7, 2024 Second…
2024 UT App 156 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS AMANDA GODFREY, Appellee, v. RANDY GODFREY, Appellant. Opinion No. 20210871-CA Filed October 31, 2024 Third District Court, Silver Summit Department The…
2024 UT App 157 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS MARI HOIDAL, Appellee and Cross-appellant, v. JOHN BERRY, Appellant and Cross-appellee. Opinion No. 20220291-CA Filed October 31, 2024 Third District Court,…
Divorce cases are not tried to a jury in any state except one: Texas. In all other states, including Utah, divorce and child custody cases are tried to the bench,…
Know this first: the best things to do are often easier said than done. That stated, they are not that hard to do, but many are not that appealing to…
Musselman v. Keele - 2024 UT App 143 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS DAVID MUSSELMAN, Appellant, v. KAMRON KEELE, Appellee. Opinion No. 20220893-CA Filed October 10, 2024 Third District Court, West…
We are not meant to be alone. We are meant to be married and to have a family. This is why losing/ending a marriage (and breaking up a family, if…
Usually painful. Perhaps in some ways that are a little different from the pain one would suffer when divorcing young, but still painful. Retirees suffer a unique pain in the…
Believing that change is inevitable, normal, and survivable. Jonny Thomson made this reel on his Facebook page, “Mini Philosophy,” which I think answers your question about as well as it…
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…
DIY litigation is difficult in almost every situation. Divorce and family law is no different. You will likely save time and money by hiring a good (a good) attorney in…
Spouses of selfish, intelligent, and manipulative people who want to avoid a messy legal and emotional battle are not telling the whole truth about what they want. Implicit in what…
This is one of the most important questions you need to ask and to answer if you are contemplating divorce or find yourself on the receiving end of a complaint…
I decided to divorce my husband of 10 years after years of neglect and feeling unloved. We have a 6-year-old daughter. For the majority of our marriage I was always…
Over the course of your divorce, you may be tempted to throw in the towel and give up. You may also be tempted to fight to your last breath. Either…
First, for those of you who don’t know what a “narc” is, let’s address that. A “narc” in this context is a narcissistic spouse. Click here for a more detailed…
You’re asking the wrong question first. Your first question should not be, “How long should I wait before I file for a divorce?,” but “*Should* I even file for a…
Great question (the answer will likely scare you and drive you nuts, but it’s a great question). Divorce court is, in many respects, the wild west. No matter what jurisdiction…
The legal process of initiating a divorce begins (in the U.S.A.) with filing a lawsuit. A divorce action is a legal action filed in court, just as a lawsuit for…
Almost all people going through a divorce say they want the case disposed of as soon as possible, but I have found that most people slow the process down for…
Many people who have gone through a divorce case or unmarried parents who have gone through a child custody case find themselves at the end of the case with a…
There are literally thousands of lists you can find online that do an excellent job of identifying the reasons accurately, clearly, and concisely. I recommend that you find them and…
During a divorce case, one parent or the other often claims that parental alienation or parental estrangement is occurring. Whether the claim is true does not stop these terms from…
Yes. Yes, it can. This does not mean that everything you post on social media will be used against you. Some statements on social media are pretty hard to find fault…
Unless the law of your jurisdiction or a court order in your particular case prohibits your children from viewing or posting on social media during the pendency of the divorce…
Are you a churchgoer? Are you a member of a church? If so, your church may have resources available to members to help them with various legal concerns or problems.…
Honestly and sensitively. This is likely going to be a discussion this child remembers for the rest of his/her life, a parent in this position will need to choose his/her…
I don’t know in what country you reside, but if you can safely consult with a divorce attorney there, you need to start your research into whether a realistic path…
This question is best answered in two parts. Can a husband dictate what his wife “must do” to reconcile with him? Obviously he cannot. Reconciliation is a mutual decision. Even…
State v. Smith - 2024 UT App 82 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, Appellee, v. STEVEN TIMOTHY SMITH, Appellant. Opinion No. 20220299-CA Filed May 31, 2024 Fifth…
If you find yourself involved in a Utah divorce action (whether child support will be an issue or not) or an action over the support of minor children in Utah…
Taking your divorce case to trial is almost always a long, complicated, and emotionally exhausting process. You may be tempted to believe you can leave all of the work to…
I can't speak for the law in all jurisdictions, but I can tell you what the law is where I practice divorce law (Utah). Can your spouse ask you to…
Sure, they need that. It is a great idea. Where there is a demand to be filled, markets arise to fill them. It would be a great benefit to people…
Make sure you understand the terms you and others may be using in asking and discussing this question. If you are a parent of minor children, and you are involved…
While I am a divorce and family lawyer (licensed in Utah), I do not claim to be an expert on the subject of prenuptial agreements. That stated (and acknowledging that…
Always? No. Frequently? Yes. Usually. Yes. Whether they deserve it or not? Usually, yes. Are mothers awarded custody of children as much as they used to be a generation or…
This is a very hard question to answer honestly and sincerely, though at first blush, it may not appear that way. There are very good reasons to divorce in certain…
This is a good question and one that often comes up in divorce cases. I cannot speak for the law in all jurisdictions, but as this question applies in the…
Like many people, I am a child of divorce. While I may not understand every reason why my parents chose to end their marriage (I was too young to understand…
Even if you trust your former spouse to deal with you honestly and in good faith in any matter pertaining to your divorce, why should you communicate in writing with…
You may have the idea that you can leverage his or her favorite or most valued things to get a more favorable outcome in your divorce. Holding property that rightfully…
It’s fair. It’s not fair. Frankly, reasonable minds can differ on this question. The governing principle in the USA is still (though it’s subtly and slowly changing) in most jurisdictions…
I can give you my personal opinion (not legal advice, but my personal opinion) from my perspective as a lawyer licensed in Utah and who practices divorce and family law…
Whether you should be or try to be friends with your spouse after a divorce is a tough question to answer. Many divorced people continue to care about each other…
If you want to know your options and have the time to exercise them, then you need to meet with an attorney immediately to find out what the law requires of you,…
See parent question. I am a divorce lawyer, and after a divorce case ends (meaning a decree of divorce has been issued and case essentially closed), I literally never know…
Have you ever heard that having a child will fix certain problems in marriage? That it will help bring a couple in a strained marriage closer together and thus fix,…
After you ask, “Is there anything I can do for winning custody after the GAL report is favoring my ex? Is paying more to my attorneys worth it or no?,”…
Black and white, plain and simple. We really mean that here at Utah Family Law, LC. What you normally hear about divorce and family law is all over the map–even when you hear it from lawyers.
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