Blog - Page 3 of 66 - Divorce Utah

Can I get a stalking injunction against someone in a different state who stalks via social media?

June 7, 2021

Civil Stalking, Civil Stalking Injunction, Men's Divorce Issues, Protective Orders, Utah Code, Utah Law, Women's Divorce Issues

Chapter 7, civil stalking injunction, electronic, protective order, social media, stalking injunction, text message, Title 76, Title 78B, Utah code

How would you go about getting an order of protection against someone in a different state for harassment and stalking via social media? I will answer your question based upon the law of the state of Utah, where I practice…

What is being a single parent without joint custody like in your country?

If a loving, able parent (i.e., a fit parent who lives in close enough proximity to the child(ren)’s other parent such that joint legal and physical custody does not work a genuine hardship on the children) would like nothing more…

What exactly does the term “will make best efforts” mean in a child custody case?

June 3, 2021

Divorce Utah

Child Custody, Custody, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Legal Custody, Men's Divorce Issues, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Parental Rights, Physical Custody, Women's Divorce Issues

child, child custody, custody

Great question. Here’s a good summary taken from the world of contract law (frankly, the definition of the term “best efforts” likely applies equally well when the term is utilized in a settlement agreement and/or court order in the divorce…

Why should I pay child support if the other parent isn’t asking for it (and doesn’t need it)?

This question doesn’t come up very often, but it does come up. I will answer this question according to the law of Utah, which is the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and family law (which includes the issue of child…

After a divorce, should my kids be with me or with the mom?

June 1, 2021

Divorce Utah

Abuse, Addiction, Adoption, Best Interest of the Child, Business Interests, Child Abuse, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Child Neglect, Children in Divorce, Coping With Divorce, Court Orders, Court Rules, Custody, Custody Evaluation, Dirty Tricks, Divorce, Divorce Fears, Divorce Law, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness, Divorce Procedure, Domestic Violence, Emotional abuse, Equity, Evidence, Family Law, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Joint Legal Custody, Joint Physical Custody, Judges, Justice and Equity, Legal Custody, Legal System, Men's Divorce Issues, Modification of Child Custody, Modification of Decree of Divorce, Modification of Parent-time, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Motion Practice, Noncustodial parents, Parent Time, Physical Custody, Sole Custody, Unwed Parents, Utah Code, Utah Law, Women's Divorce Issues

child custody, fathers, joint custody, joint equal custody, legal custody, mothers, parent, parents

First, you need to understand that you’re asking the wrong question. Child custody is not a zero-sum game; otherwise stated, when parents divorce, or when unmarried parents separate, where you get the idea that the children must be in the…

What can you do if you failed to get a prenup before getting married? Is there anything I can do that’s close to a Prenup when I’m already married?

What can you do if you failed to get a prenup before getting married? Is there anything I can do that’s close to a Prenup when I’m already married? It is possible to get an agreement like a prenuptial agreement…

Why is it OK for a parent to be given custody without their kids’ consent?

May 28, 2021

Divorce Utah

Best Interest of the Child, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Custody, Custody Evaluation, Divorce Fears, Divorce Law, Divorce Lawyers, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness, Expert Witnesses, Family Law, Fathers' Divorce Issues, GAL (Guardian ad Litem), Holiday Parent-time, Joint Physical Custody, Judges, Legal Custody, Legal System, Men's Divorce Issues, Modification of Child Custody, Modification of Parent-time, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Noncustodial parents, Parent Time, Parental Alienation, Parental Fitness, Parental Rights, Parenting Plan, Women's Divorce Issues

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Why is it okay for a parent to be given custody without their kids consent or at least their input? This is a great question. I can’t speak for all lawyers, and the laws and rules governing what the courts…

Do judges sometimes feel overburdened by the responsibilities of their job?

Yes, and for good reason. First, let me be unusually but sincerely candid: many judges and many of the actions that judges take disappoint me. There are some excellent judges on the bench who are clearly skilled in the law…

Does a spouse have the right to see a DUI report?

First, if you are referring to a police report of a DUI citation and/or arrest, in most jurisdictions such records are public record, and thus available not only to your spouse, but to any other member of the public. Second,…

Are family members allowed to be character witnesses in a divorce case?

Questions regarding one’s character as a spouse and parent often arise in a divorce and/or child custody case, and family members are often some of the best, if not the best, character witnesses on subjects that frequently arise in divorce…

My spouse opens accounts in my name, forges my signature. How to stop it?

My spouse opens accounts in my name, steals checks, forges my signature. How do I get my spouse to stop? Without telling me, my spouse opens store accounts in my name, steals my checks, forges my name on my checks…

Why is the divorce rate so high in the United States?

Why is the divorce rate so high in the United States? Until now, I would answer this question by stating that some of the main reasons for the high divorce rate in the United States were a failure to understand…

I have custody of my child. He’s refusing to come home. What now?

May 19, 2021

Divorce Utah

Abuse, Addiction, Child Abuse, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Child Neglect, Children in Divorce, Co-parenting, Coping With Divorce, Court Orders, Court Rules, Custodial Interference, Custody, Dirty Tricks, Divorce, Divorce Court, Divorce Fears, Divorce Law, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness, Divorce Procedure, Family Law, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Joint Legal Custody, Joint Physical Custody, Judges, Legal Custody, Legal System, Men's Divorce Issues, Modification of Child Custody, Modification of Decree of Divorce, Modification of Parent-time, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Parental Alienation, Parental Fitness, Parental Rights, Parenting Plan, Petition to Modify Decree of Divorce, Physical Custody, Sole Custody, Women's Divorce Issues

child choice, child custody, choice, choose, court, de facto, de jure, enforce, enforcement, Modification, modify, noncompliance, noncompliant, noncomplying, petition, physical custody, powerless, primary custody, primary physical custody, sole custody

I have custody of my child. He left to go to his mom’s last Friday for the weekend. He is refusing to come home because he wants to live there. What happens now? I will answer this question in the…

“Best interest of the child” and a “material and substantial change of circumstances”

May 18, 2021

Divorce Utah

Best Interest of the Child, Change of Circumstances, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Material and Substantial Change of Circumstances, Modification of Child Custody

child custody, child custody award, child custody modification, material and substantial change of circumstances, modification of child custody, modification of custody

Doyle v. Doyle, 258 P.3d 553 (Utah Ct.App. 2011) 2011 UT 42m ¶ 38, “Even an overwhelming case for the best interest of the child could not compensate for a lack of proof of a change in circumstances. See Becker,…

Why do I have to give the court my Social Security Number?

May 17, 2021

Divorce Utah

Child Support, Custody, Divorce, Protective Orders

divorce, Social Security Number, Utah code

Why do I have to give the court my Social Security Number in my divorce, child custody, paternity, protective order, or other family law or family law-related case? Here is why: § 30-3-10.17. Social security number in court records The…

Child refuses to leave noncustodial parent’s house. What happens now?

May 14, 2021

Divorce Utah

Abuse, Addiction, Child Abuse, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Child Neglect, Children in Divorce, Co-parenting, Coping With Divorce, Court Orders, Court Rules, Custodial Interference, Custody, Dirty Tricks, Divorce, Divorce Fears, Divorce Law, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness, Family Law, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Joint Legal Custody, Joint Physical Custody, Judges, Legal Custody, Legal System, Men's Divorce Issues, Modification of Child Custody, Modification of Decree of Divorce, Modification of Parent-time, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Parental Alienation, Parental Fitness, Parental Rights, Parenting Plan, Petition to Modify Decree of Divorce, Physical Custody, Sole Custody, Women's Divorce Issues

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I am the noncustodial parent. Our child came to my house for parent-time and now refuses to leave because he wants to live with me. What happens now? I will answer this question in the context of my experience as…

I paid my ex in cash for child support. Will the court give me credit for it?

I paid my ex in cash for child support. Will the court give me credit for it? In Utah (where I practice family law), the answer is: yes. And while I cannot speak for all jurisdictions, I would presume that…

I suspect my husband fathered a child with someone else. Can I challenge our divorce ruling?

If I suspect my ex-husband fathered a child with someone else while we were married, can I challenge our divorce ruling? If, by this question, you mean that you are the wife; and you discovered, after you divorced, that your…

What would happen if there were no alimony or splitting assets in divorce without kids?

May 11, 2021

Divorce Utah

Alimony and Support, Best Interest of the Child, Children in Divorce, Coping With Divorce, Court Orders, Division of Marital Property, Divorce, Divorce Causes, Divorce Costs, Divorce Court, Divorce Fears, Divorce Law, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness, Divorce Prevention/Marriage Preservation, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Finances, Husband's or Wife's Business, Marital Debts, Marital Estate, Marital Home, Marital Property, Men's Divorce Issues, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Pension, Personal Property, Retirement Benefits, Spousal Support, Spouse's Business, Termination of Alimony, Women's Divorce Issues

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That is an interesting question. Before I answer it, know this: anyone who is motivated to marry on a “what’s in it for me?” basis and who stays married motivated by a “what’s in it for me?” basis is likely…

Custody order says mother and child can’t leave the state. Is that legal?

If custody order says mother and child are not allowed to leave the state, is there any chance the court would allow them to go on a vacation to another country if the father says no? I cannot speak for…