Are There Rules About What You Can File With the Court and When? Deadlines, Page Limits, and Filing Rules in Utah Family Law Cases

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…

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Complacent Rulings, Lasting Damage

“Remember that most people will pretend to operate in your interest while operating in their own.” —Ray Dalio Dalio wasn’t talking about family courts when he wrote this, but he…

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The Myth of Utah’s “Standard Parent-Time”

Utah law does not impose a mandatory “standard parent-time” schedule. The schedules in Utah Code § 81-9-302 are only possible options for courts to consider. In practice, however, judges often adopt them with little…

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Should I Go Through My Child’s Phone or Other Devices During the Divorce?

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.…

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Sample Objection Language for GAL and Custody Evaluator Overreach in Utah Courts

(For educational purposes only. Consult your attorney before you considering using these in your own case.) GAL Acting Like a Witness Without Being Sworn “Your Honor, I object. The Guardian…

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Is Required Divorce Mediation Under the Utah Code a Waste of Time? By Braxton Mounteer, Legal Assistant

If you get divorced in Utah, you may be surprised to learn that you are required—unless you are excused for good cause—to attend at least one session of mediation before…

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Do I Receive Alimony if I’m the One to File for Divorce?

I cannot speak as to what the law is on all jurisdictions, but I can answer this question based upon the law of the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and…

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