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…
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…
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?,”…
The family law legal system likes to portray itself as a shining beacon of justice and equity, but I have seen first-hand that it is not. Whether it is opportunistic…
I know you want to believe that divorce mediation is the trick to a fast, easy, cheap, amicable divorce. I know you want to believe this, and we know why.…
You have just received an email from your lawyer about a deadline that your lawyer needs your help to meet. What should you do? You are already extremely busy with your life and…
One of the hardest documents for a Utah divorce litigant to prepare is the financial declaration. I am amazed at the number of clients who don't take this document and…
The term for representing yourself in court is "pro se" or "pro per". Can you navigate the legal system successfully without a lawyer representing you in your case? Before I…
Please check your email. And if you don’t have an email address, you must get one. And then you need to check your email inbox every day. Not just once…
Who would you believe more in a court case: a person who admits to his/her faults, who honestly discloses all of his/her relevant information (even the information that hurts his/her…
I have noticed three chronic problems with clients in just the few weeks I have been working as a legal assistant. 1) Most clients seem to have an almost allergic…
I cannot answer this question as it applies in all jurisdictions because I am not licensed in all jurisdictions, but I can answer this question at that applies in the…
Lawyers are officers of the court. That means that while a lawyer clearly has a duty to his or her client, a lawyer’s first duty is not to the client,…
This is a great question because it is so basic, yet so important. These are the kinds of questions a client needs to have answered understood before he or she…
The better question is: Do SOME family law attorneys typically play along with unreasonable client demands? The answer is, unequivocally, yes: some family law attorneys typically play along with unreasonable…
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…
What are two lines of work that fit together well? For example, a remodeling contractor and a divorce lawyer. I do not believe a lawyer or client would really want…
Is there anything that can surprise a judge during a contested divorce proceeding? Of course. We’ve all read about cases where all of the circumstantial evidence indicated the defendant is…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant Well, I made it. There was no real worry that I could not do it, but being a legal assistant is not an easy job…
What happens if I signed a CPS safety plan but the court orders protective supervision? The court’s order supersedes the agreement. Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277 https://www.quora.com/What-happens-if-I-signed-a-CPS-safety-plan-but-the-court-orders-protective-supervision/answer/Eric-Johnson-311 …
Not merely for having a warrant out for your arrest, no. Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277 https://www.quora.com/Do-you-lose-child-custody-if-you-have-a-bench-warrant/answer/Eric-Johnson-311
Do I need to show up for court if I was never served papers? I live in South Carolina. I cannot speak for or about the jurisdiction of South Carolina…
Is it true that family courts get paid from child support payments? Can someone explain it to me or link me to an article that explains it? The courts do…
There isn’t one. There can’t be. I’ll explain why and what you can and should do if you want to go the DIY divorce by the book route. The main…
Would you enlist your children into a pre-law school program which grooms them to become top notch lawyers? No. I have gone in the opposite direction. I have told my…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant The lesson I have been learning in my time working as a legal assistant is how important it is to have legal representation. Not just…
What affects the outcome of court cases more, the relative strengths and experience of the opposing lawyers, actual facts, relevant law, or some other factor? I answer this question in…
What are some examples of how to not appear judgmental as a lay witness in court? Tell the !@#$% truth, not stories you hope will dupe the court into doing…
According to Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019): PROCEEDING proceeding (16c) 1. The regular and orderly progression of a lawsuit, including all acts and events between the time of commencement…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant Rule of law. The restriction of the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-defined and established laws. My time as a legal assistant for a divorce…
It’s easy if you know what you’re doing. And if you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s easy to find someone who does know what to do. In many jurisdictions,…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant My boss at the law firm where I work (Utah Family Law, LC) has informed me more than once that, “divorce lawyers are, with few exceptions, terrible people”. I am…
You may have a very difficult time finding free legal representation, BUT you may have a much easier time getting advice as to how you can and should proceed and…
What are some examples of how to not appear judgmental (or worse) as a lay witness in court? Tell the !@#$% truth, not stories you hope will dupe the court…
By Quinton Lister, legal assistant I think one of the least understood facets of the legal system by lay people (like myself, a new legal assistant) is the concept of…
By Quinton Lister, Legal Assistant I think most of the observations I am having as a new legal assistant are not groundbreaking, but my boss and I are learning that…
By Quinton Lister, Legal Assistant Since I have started working as a legal assistant, I have come to realize more the nuances of legality vs. morality. For the purposes of…
It depends mostly upon whether your attorney has a big heart and/or no head for business. Generally, an attorney who takes your case without being paid as he/she goes, but…
There are some great answers in this thread already. I hope that adding my two cents’ worth is informative too. I am a divorce and family lawyer. With rare exception…
How do lawyers drag out court cases? In some respects, the ways are limited only by the power of one’s imagination, but the most common ways I have experienced in…
Why do attorneys often use the title "Esquire" in their business cards and letterheads? Because the kinds of attorneys who use "Esquire' are conceited and pretentious. There's a great article…
Do lawyers ever regret helping a client or obtaining a particular judgment? Yes, yes, of course. We all know that there are plenty of lawyers who will prostitute their professional skills for money…
Lawyers, why do some cases drag for years without a conclusive decision? Does it help to get a favorable outcome or not? Does delay help one to get a favorable…
Why do lawyers get paid no matter the results? Your question assumes a false fact. Lawyers are not always paid no matter the results. One example is a contingency fee…
Why do attorneys often use the title "Esquire" in their business cards and letterheads? Because those kinds of attorneys are conceited and pretentious. Get Over Yourself And Stop Calling Yourself…
Are all lawyers psychopaths? No, although social science research repeatedly finds that law is one of the top professions to which psychopaths are drawn (it’s #1 or #2 on most…
Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court (pro se)? Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court?…
Are older lawyers better? If by “older” you mean lawyers who are not fresh out of law school, the answer is: almost always yes. They don’t teach you how to…
There is nothing a GAL could learn how to do that a judge cannot also learn how to do equally well. This post is the ninth in series of 15…
This post is the eighth in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment of guardians ad litem (“GALs” for short) in Utah child custody…
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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