How Terrible Is It to Go Through a Divorce?
It depends on the person going through it, although it’s safe to state that for most people it is a miserable experience. Some may acknowledge it was a necessary, though…
In the USA, Should Divorce Without Cause Be Eliminated?
Should divorce without cause be eliminated? If it were, we would likely find ourselves back in the situation that led to the creation of no-fault divorce in the first place.…
Can Adoptive Parents Lose Their Kids When They Divorce?
Adoptive parents cannot lose custody of the children they adopted merely because they divorce. The children of adoptive parents are treated no differently in divorce than children who are issue…
Resource for Domestic Violence Survivors from Hello Divorce
HelloDivorce.com offers resources and support to people navigating divorce, including support for survivors of domestic abuse. This guest post is an in-depth guide on "What Domestic Abuse Victims Need to…
If I Have a Temporary Court Hearing for Joint Custody and I Have Planned a Vacation Before the Order Is in Place. Can I Still Take My Child Out of State as the Custodial Parent?
This is a complicated question. If there is no statute or court order in place that bars you from taking your child out of state with you for a vacation,…
Going Through a Divorce. She Moved Out. I Continued Mortgage Alone for a Year. I Move Out, She Moves in and Never Pays for 9 Months. I Pay to Get It Out. Does She Owe Me?
This is a great question. Thank you for asking it. It’s a question that arises frequently in divorce situations. And you’re likely not going to like the answer. It could…
How Can I Show the Court a Parent’s Previous Words and Deeds to Show He/She Is Lying?
What you are asking about is called “impeaching” the witness. There are many ways to impeach a witness. One way is to ask him or her questions to which the…
Divorce Is Often a “Cure” Worse Than the Disease
In response to this question, "Have you ever thought someone was making a mistake by getting a divorce?,” I stated (and I summarize here) some people need to divorce. It’s…
2023 UT App 62 – Cox v. Cox – Adequacy of Court Findings
2023 UT App 62 - Cox v. Cox THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS BLANCHE COX, Appellee, v. JAMES A. COX, Appellant. Opinion No. 20210455-CA Filed June 8, 2023 Fourth District…
Why Should Divorce Not Be Legalized?
There is no rationally or morally justified reason for making divorce illegal in any and all circumstances. That stated, most would agree that while it was instituted with the best…
If I Have Sole Legal Custody of Our 15-Year-Old Son and His Father Has Visitation Rights Only, Is He Allowed to Pull Him Out of a Sport He Has Already Started?
I can't speak for what the law is or how it applies in all jurisdictions, but I can answer this question as it would apply in the state of Utah,…
Have You Ever Regretted a Divorce as Opposed to a Permanent Separation Agreement?
Legal separation vs. divorce. Which is better? The answer is different for each person confronted with the choice. For some, separation is preferable to divorce. For others, just the opposite…
Has Anyone Relinquished Full Custody to Their Spouse to Avoid Putting Their Child Through the 50/50 Split?
I had a weird experience as a lawyer in a situation kind of like the one you’re asking about. The ex-spouse didn’t end up with sole custody of the children,…
How Do You Deal With Your Child’s Divorce?
As you would deal with any hardship through which your adult child may be going: with compassion and wisdom. Bear in mind from the outset that for some, divorce is…
How Will You Go About Settling Disagreements With Your Spouse That Affect the Child?
Answers to this question could take up an entire book (actually, it could take up many entire books, and it does—literally millions of pages have been written on this subject).…
How Many Children in the U.S. Experience Divorcing Parents? Does Anyone Have the Statistics?
About half. Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277 https://www.quora.com/How-many-children-in-the-US-experience-divorcing-their-parents-Does-anyone-have-the-statistics/answer/Eric-Johnson-311
How Long Does a Divorce Take, From Start to Finish, in Utah?
Great question. Here is the best concise answer I can give you. Most divorce cases settle. Many divorce cases that do settle were settled badly. Some bad settlements are the…
What Is Your Argument for the Legalization of Divorce?
Divorce is a necessity in certain, narrow circumstances (or at least it should be). Recklessly divorcing is as “right” as is recklessly driving. It happens, but it’s wrong. Before no-fault…
Mintz v. Mintz – 2023 UT App 17
Mintz v. Mintz - 2023 UT App 17 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS RAYNA ELIZABETH MINTZ, Appellant and Cross-appellee, v. GLEN RYAN MINTZ, Appellee and Cross-appellant. Opinion No. 20200507-CA Filed…
From Utah Business Magazine: Utah Has Highest Percentage of Marriages in Past 10 Years
From Utah Business Magazine: Utah has highest percentage of marriages in past 10 years https://www.utahbusiness.com/utah-has-highest-percentage-of-marriages-in-past-10-years/ Key findings (among many other interesting things): Utah, Idaho and Wyoming have the highest percentages…
How Do You Fight Depression While Going Through a Divorce and Custody Battle With a Narcissist?
In my experience as a divorce and family lawyer, and one who has gone through crises of his own, I can tell you what some of the problems are, and…
Are Divorce Lawyers Ethically Supposed to at Least Attempt to Dissuade a Client From Divorcing?
Great question. Thank you for asking. The answer (at least for the jurisdiction where I practice divorce law (Utah)) is: no, a lawyer has no ethical obligation to dissuade a…
Does Divorce Mean a ‘Broken Home’ for a Child?
Yes, the term broken home is typically defined as “a family in which the parents have divorced." https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broken%20home https://www.dictionary.com/browse/broken-home (Dictionary.com is based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random…
Why Do Americans Believe That Divorce Is Damaging to Children Compared to Remaining in a “Bad” Marriage?
Your question is not a good one because it’s based upon a false premise. Not all Americans believe that it’s better for all children for their parents to remain in…
My Parents May Be Getting Divorced, Any Tips? Is There Any Way to Make Their Lives and Divorce in General Easier?
Yes, there are several things that virtually every divorcing couple can and should do to make their lives and the divorce no more difficult and painful than necessary. I will…
How Do You Get a Divorce That Involves No Children and No Property or Money if You Haven’t Been Able to Find Your Spouse for Almost 10 Years, and Without Having to Hire a Lawyer?
You probably worry that hiring a lawyer will bankrupt you, and so you’re afraid to get the help a good divorce lawyer could be to you. Before you resolve not…
Kingston v. Kingston – 2022 UT 43 – Parental Rights, Due Process Rights
2022 UT 43 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH RYAN CLYDE KINGSTON, Appellant, v. JESSICA BENNY KINGSTON, Appellee. No. 20200350 Heard April 11, 2022 Filed __ On…
Why Does He Want a Divorce Over Me Wanting Him Sober?
Could be many reasons, but it may be that he doesn't believe he can get sober (that he does not have the strength or will to overcome it) and does…
See Clearly to Succeed in Divorce
Click here to see what a flower looks like to a human eye and to see what the same flower looks like to a honeybee’s eyes. How you perceive the…
What are your thoughts on a second marriage?
My answer comes from the perspective of a divorce lawyer who’s been in practice for 26 years. Note that I believe in marriage. Although I am a divorce lawyer myself,…
Do I have to pay the court to go to trial?
Do I have to pay the court to go to trial? I am a divorce and family lawyer. I was asked this question and was a little surprised that this…
How do you get pet custody after a breakup?
I cannot speak on what the law is in every jurisdiction, but according to Utah (Utah is where I practice divorce and family law), the answers are: If by “breakup”…
If you give a divorce lawyer a retainer on a divorce and then change your mind within a few days, are they obligated to return the retainer?
While I cannot speak for all jurisdictions and for all situations, generally an attorney to whom you have paid a retainer or advance deposit is obligated to return the unearned…
How do I convince a family court judge that a narcissistic parent should not have parenting time?
So many people believe (and I don’t know how or why they have come to this belief) that “if I can show that the other parent has this flaw, I…
What’s the best divorce advice?
If you did everything you could to ensure that your marriage got off to the best start possible, but divorce has reared its ugly head through no fault of your…
Which is more difficult for children: parents getting a divorce or parents getting an annulment?
Both result in Mom and Dad no longer living together with their children. Divorce ends a marriage, and annulment results in a legal and religious ruling that the marriage does…
Whose responsibility is it to reduce or put an end to the divorce rate in this modern day?
Few rational, intelligent, thinking people would argue that a divorce rate hovering around 50% is not too high. Society suffers from a high divorce rate and the broken families that…
Thayne v. Thayne – 2022 UT App 122 – Change of Circumstances
2022 UT App 122 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STEPHANIE THAYNE, Appellee, v. DEVIN THAYNE, Appellant. Opinion No. 20200598-CA Filed November 3, 2022 Second District Court, Ogden Department The Honorable…
Is it common for someone to choose to end a 10+ year marriage then secretly create conflict to trick kids into saying, “yes” to “should we leave”?
Common? No. Not all that unusual? Yes. Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277 https://www.quora.com/Is-it-common-for-someone-to-choose-to-end-a-10-year-marriage-then-secretly-create-conflict-to-trick-kids-into-saying-yes-to-should-we-leave/answer/Eric-Johnson-311
Which last name should I use on my divorce documents?
The name by which you are known officially and legally. Not a name you’ve “adopted” informally (even if no one knows you by your legal given name) but what is…
What is the most gruesome divorce you’ve encountered?
Fortunately, I’ve been spared gruesome divorce matters. I had a client commit suicide, though I did not witness it myself. The parents called and notified me. Utah Family Law, LC…
Is it normal for a couple to continue living together after divorce?
No, it is not. Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277 https://www.quora.com/Is-it-normal-for-a-couple-to-continue-living-together-after-divorce/answer/Eric-Johnson-311
Which last name should I use on my divorce documents?
The name by which you are known officially and legally. Not a name you’ve “adopted” informally (even if no one knows you by your legal given name) but what is…
Is it common for someone to choose to end a 10+ year marriage then secretly create conflict to trick kids into saying, “yes” to “should we leave”?
Common? No. Not all that unusual? Yes. Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277 https://www.quora.com/Is-it-common-for-someone-to-choose-to-end-a-10-year-marriage-then-secretly-create-conflict-to-trick-kids-into-saying-yes-to-should-we-leave/answer/Eric-Johnson-311
What can I do if my ex won’t stop taking me to court?!
My ex has been taking me to court for over 4 years to get my joint custody taken away. Her father worked for the courts for 25 years so she…
Why are so many attorneys seemingly against legal separation?
Why are so many attorneys seemingly against legal separation? I truly feel in my circumstance its best for me/us. Is it because they wont make as much money? We have…
How do you change the name on a deed after a divorce?
In Utah (where I practice divorce and family law), there is more than one way to transfer title to the marital home (assuming the parties own a home), but the…
How long do you pay alimony in Utah?
The law governing the duration of alimony is pretty simple and straightforward: See Utah Code § 30-3-5, subsections (1)(c) and (11)(e): (1) As used in this section: ***** (c) "Length…
Many unhappy couples rush into divorce, but is it a wise course?
Clearly, acting in haste is risky behavior in any situation. Deciding to divorce is no exception. Rushing into divorce could result in an unnecessary divorce. Rushing into divorce could show…
Are you going through a child custody dispute in court, or contemplating one?
Are you going through a child custody dispute in court, or contemplating one? If so, have you heard about a custody evaluation? if not, you'll want to pay particularly close…