Parens Patriae: Why the Court Gets Involved in Your Family
If you’re dealing with a divorce or a child custody dispute, there’s something you need to understand early: This is not just your case. That’s not rhetoric. It’s how the…
Utah Court of Appeals Affirms Broad Continuous Protective Orders Covering Household Children
State v. Allred - 2026 UT App 1 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH,Appellee, v. ALLEN MICHAEL ALLRED, Appellant. Opinion No. 20230738-CA Filed January 2, 2026 First District…
Orem City v. Jakeman – 2025 UT App 187 – continuous protective orders after sentencing
2025 UT App 187 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS OREM CITY, Appellee, v. DAVID AMMON JAKEMAN, Appellant. Opinion No. 20241042-CA Filed December 18, 2025 Fourth District Court, Spanish Fork Department…
Judicial Overreach in Utah Child Custody Order: Return to Restraint
In Utah, as in other states, courts deciding child custody and parent-time disputes are charged with applying the “best interests of the child” standard. That standard is necessary, but it…
Reforming Child Custody in Utah Divorce: A Parental Fitness Approach
In Utah, divorce-related child custody disputes often escalate over parenting flaws that wouldn’t justify state intervention outside divorce. This approach is flawed because it creates a double standard that unfairly…
Protecting Parental Rights: Why Sole Custody Shouldn’t Be the Default Response
A single mistake shouldn't cost a parent his or her relationship with his/her child. Yet too often, family courts award sole custody based on isolated incidents or "aberrant behavior" that…
Can My Ex Legally Let a Sex Offender Be Around My Kids in Utah?
TL;DR: No, not without strict limits. In Utah, no parent may not allow a registered sex offender to be around your children—even in that parent’s own home—without the other parent’s…
I Can’t Believe I’m Giving This Advice, but I Am: Why Every Divorced Parent Should Consider Background Checks on New Partners Who Are or Who Will Be Around Their Kids
If you're divorced and you are, or your ex is, introducing a new boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse into your minor children’s lives, you should seriously consider running a background check…
Are Parents Charged With Contempt of Court or Have Their Visitation Rights Suspended When Their Children Report That They Have Been Abusive?
Yes. Why? Contempt of court is defined as: 1) a valid court order; 2) of which the parent has notice; 3) that the parent is capable of obey; 4) but…
Do We Need More and Better Court Intervention in Domestic Relations Cases?
In many types of civil litigation, the core issue is not whether time is of the essence, but whether one will eventually recover compensation, and if so, how much. Yes,…
How Can I Fight for Child Visitation and My Parental Rights Without a Lawyer in Utah?
No one is required to hire a lawyer to represent him/her in a child custody dispute. If you are involved in a termination of parental rights or child abuse case…
What Should I Do if I Feel Like the County Family Court Judge as Well as My Lawyer Have Not Upheld My Legal Rights as a Parent?
This is a good question because the way you have posed the question reflects the problem many people have with the legal system. Your feeling may stem from the court…
My Ex and I Have Joint Custody, but He Hasn’t Been Letting Me See My Child for a Couple of Months Now. Will He Lose Custody if I Go Back to Court and Tell Them About This?
I’ll assume that what you mean by “my ex and I have joint custody” is you and your ex share physical custody of your child. I’ll also assume that in…
How Difficult Would It Be to Get Legal Custody Back After Willingly Giving 100% Legal Custody to My Child’s Mother?
In Utah, if you have not had your parental rights terminated, but instead you simply agreed to your child’s parent having custody of the child (with you having little to no…
Do You Lose Parental Rights Automatically When You Get Divorced if You Do Not File for Visitation or Custody?
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…
What Good Parents Need to Know About Child Custody Disputes with an Evil Parent
You hear and read on attorney websites stuff like, “Navigating child custody arrangements during divorce can be challenging.” That’s not the half of it. Child custody disputes with an evil parent…
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.…
John v. John – 2023 UT App 103
John v. John - 2023 UT App 103 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS LUCAS ALLEN JOHN, Appellee, v. CASSANDRA KATHLEEN JOHN, Appellant. Opinion No. 20210506-CA Filed September 14, 2023 Third…
In re M.M. – 2023 UT App 95 – termination of parental rights
2023 UT App 95 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF M.M., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. A.M., Appellant, v. STATE OF UTAH,…
The Father of My Child Told Me He Can Unilaterally Give Up His Parental Rights. Can He? He Thinks This Way He Will Get Out of Child Support. Can He Do This?
There is more than one question to answer here. First, does a parent have the unilateral power simply to “give up” his or her parental rights (and accompanying obligations)? No. The…
In Re L.L.B. – 2023 UT App 66 – Termination of Parental Rights Reversed
In re L.L.B. - 2023 UT App 66 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS IN THE INTEREST OF L.L.B., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. C.B. AND H.B., Appellees, v.…
2023 UT 11 – In Re C.D.S. And W.E.S – Appeal of Termination Parental Rights
2023 UT 11 - In re C.D.S. and W.E.S IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH STATE OF UTAH, in the interest of C.D.S. and W.E.S., persons under…
2023 UT App 55 – In re F.C.G.
2023 UT App 55 - In re F.C.G. THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF F.C.G., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. L.C.G., Appellant,…
Can a Parent Who Signed Over Their Legal Rights Show Up at School Functions for the Child? Is There Anything That Can Be Done if They Keep Coming to Things Like Sports and Award Ceremonies?
I cannot answer this question as to what law applies in all jurisdictions, as I am not licensed to practice law in all jurisdictions, but I will be happy to…
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…
In Re A.H. – 2022 UT App 114 – Termination of Parental Rights
2022 UT App 114 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF A.H., J.H., J.H., L.H., N.H., S.H., AND E.H., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.…
If Parents Are Divorced or Separated, Can the Parent With Full Custody of the Child Prevent the Other Parent From Seeing the Child, Even if That Parent Is Paying Child Support?
Unless: there is a statute or court order that permits it; or this kind of statute or court order could be the kind that permits the temporary denial of contact…
How can I make sure father won’t gain custody?
My husband cheated on me and we're getting a divorce. He begged me not to take his children away, but I want him to suffer. How can I make sure…
How does someone take custody of a child after winning custody?
When someone wins custody of a child, does the child come to the courthouse to be taken by whoever is awarded custody or do they go to the home of…
In re J.P. – 2021 UT App 134 – termination of parental rights
In re J.P. - 2021 UT App 134 2021 UT App 134 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF J.P. AND T.P., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS…
In re J.P. – 2021 UT App 134 – termination of parental rights
2021 UT App 134 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF J.P. AND T.P., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. T.L., Appellant, v. STATE OF…
I have a debit card in my name. Can my parents take it?
I’m assuming that this question comes from someone who is a minor child (i.e., someone who is under the age of 18 and not a legally recognized adult or legally emancipated). This…
In re Z.C. W. – 2021 UT App 98 – Utah Court of Appeals
In re Z.C.W. - 2021 UT App 98 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF Z.C.W. AND C.C.W., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. R.D., Appellant, v. C.L.W., Appellee. Opinion No. 20200039-CA Filed September 23, 2021 Third District…
2021 UT 36 – In re E.R.
2021 UT 36 – In re E.R. IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH State of Utah, in the interest of E.R., a person under eighteen years of age J.R., Petitioner, STATE OF UTAH, Respondent. …
Do you think it’s fair that Brad Pitt got joint custody of his kids?
Normally, I do not like to comment on the intersection of pop culture and family law because quite often, what happens in a celebrity divorce or child custody dispute does…
Judge says stay away from my paramour. Can judge do that?
Judge says stay away from my paramour. Can judge do that? I became pregnant by my paramour after my husband and I separated. The court order states we are not…
Can grandma sue for custody/visitation if you stopped taking the child to visit because of COVID-19?
Can grandma sue for custody/visitation if you stopped taking the child to visit because of COVID-19? What would you do if your mother sued you for custody/visitation of a grandchild…
If I can’t find an attorney, can it honestly be said I got a fair trial?
If I can’t find an attorney, can it honestly be said I got a fair trial? If a person seeks legal representation in a court, and every attorney they tries…
Can a parent discipline a child by taking the child’s phone away?
Can a parent discipline a child by taking the child’s phone away? Before researching this question, I thought the answer was obvious. It’s not. As a both a lawyer and…
Should we award custody to the parent who is a lower risk for COVID-19?
Should we award custody to the parent who is a lower risk for COVID-19? Is it reasonable to give custody to the parent who is a lower health risk to…
In re G.J.P. – 2020 UT 4 – UTAH SUPREME COURT
This opinion is subject to revision before final publication in the Pacific Reporter In re G.J.P. - 2020 UT 4 - IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH…
Divorcing parents in psychiatric care deny thoughts of self-harm?
Do parents in psychiatric care deny thoughts of self-harm for fear admitting it may impact custody? Is it common for a parent in psychiatric care to make false denials of thoughts…
If a mother served 10 years in prison, what rights does she have on release?
If a mother who is sentenced to 10 years in prison leaves her children to be raised by their grandmother, has she a right to demand they live with her…
In re L.M. – 2019 UT App 174 – reasonable reunification services
2019 UT App 174 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF L.M., A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. A.M., Appellant v. STATE OF UTAH,…
Legally, are parents allowed to force their children to go somewhere?
Only to a certain extent. Children are morally and legally obliged to obey their parents, unless the parents seek to compel their children to do or accept something that would…
Can CPS take your kids for missing two dental appointments?
Can child protective services take your kids for missing two dental appointments? Yes (and well they should), if the dental appointments are necessary to protect the child from disfigurement, from…
After a divorce, is joint residential custody better or worse for the children?
Let’s indulge an analogy to answer this question. Is sugar good for you, or bad for you? It depends upon the circumstances. An occasional slice of cake or pie is…
Can I voluntarily terminate my parental rights?
My daughter hates me, my ex wants me out of their lives, and we have agreed to give up my parental rights. What can we do to terminate my parental…
Can a Parent Pay No Child Support and Still Have Visitation and Parent-time Rights?
QUESTION: Dear Eric, My ex and I have been separated for a while now. He has not given us any money for child support. I am supporting my child and…
In re K.K. 2017 UT App 58
In re K.K. 2017 UT App 58 - Utah Court of Appeals STATE OF UTAH, IN THE INTEREST OF K.K., J.R.K., AND M.K., PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. L.K.,…