Utah Law Does Not Support a Categorical Bar to Child Testimony Utah’s custodial statute expressly contemplates judicial inquiry into a child’s views. Section 81-9-204(5)(b)(i) provides that “the court may inquire…
When Utah courts face high-conflict custody disputes, one common suggestion is to appoint what is known as a Private Guardian ad Litem (PGAL)—an attorney ostensibly tasked with “representing the best interests of…
In Utah divorces, casting your spouse as the villain without proof can wreck your credibility and your custody case. Self-reflection and evidence—not drama—win the day. Divorce brings out strong emotions.…
Utah divorce and family courts sometimes wander into nanny-court social engineering, issuing orders that treat parents like fools and/or helpless children who can’t be trusted to act sensibly without judicial…
In a Utah divorce or custody dispute, you can’t just file whatever you want with a court and whenever you feel like it. The Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, plus orders…
Utah judges and domestic relations commissioners reassure parents that early custody, parent-time, and support orders issued during the pendency of the child custody case are “just temporary.” Don’t believe it.…
Why this comes up Divorce makes parents hyper-vigilant. A child’s smartphone can feel like the master key to what’s really happening—messages with the other parent, photos, social media, location history.…
TL;DR: Arbitration–mediation (arb-med) in Utah divorce and family law starts with arbitration, then gives the parties a final chance to settle in mediation before the arbitrator’s decision becomes binding. It saves…