Child Custody Modification Archives

Can a mother lose custody even if the child is still very young?

April 2, 2021

Best Interest of the Child, Child Abuse, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Child Neglect, Children in Divorce, Co-parenting, Coping With Divorce, Court Orders, Court Rules, Custody, Custody Evaluation, Dirty Tricks, Divorce Fears, Divorce Law, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness, Divorce Procedure, Education, Evidence, Family Law, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Joint Legal Custody, Joint Physical Custody, Legal Custody, Legal System, Men's Divorce Issues, Mental Illness, Modification of Decree of Divorce, Modification of Parent-time, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Noncustodial parents, Parent Time, Parental Alienation, Parental Fitness, Parental Rights, Parenting Plan, Personality Disorders, Preparing for Divorce, Sole Custody, Stepchildren, Stepparents, Supervised Parent-time, Supervised Visitation, Utah Code, Women's Divorce Issues

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Can a mother lose custody even if the child is still very young? Are there any situations where a mother can lose custody even if their child is still very young (e.g., under 5 years old)? Oh, heck yeah. Many…

Can the other parent send someone I’ve never met to pickups and drop-offs for our child?

Can the other parent send someone I’ve never met to pickups and drop-offs for our child? Can the other parent send someone I’ve never met to pickups and drop-offs for our child when custody order only lists the parents? What…

What policies and factors determine how child support is calculated?

March 16, 2021

Divorce Utah

Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Child Support, Child Support Calculation, Child Support Enforcement, Child Support Modification, Children in Divorce, Divorce, Divorce Costs, Divorce Fears, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness, Divorce Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Joint Physical Custody, Legal System, Men's Divorce Issues, Modification of Child Custody, Modification of Child Support, Modification of Decree of Divorce, Modification of Parent-time, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Physical Custody, Women's Divorce Issues

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What policies and factors determine how child support is calculated? This is a good question and a question that many parents ask. Every state in U.S. has child support calculation guidelines and formulae to determine which parent pays child support…

Can grandma sue if the child stopped visiting because of COVID-19?

March 12, 2021

Divorce Utah

Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Court Orders, Legal Custody, Modification of Child Custody, Termination of Parental Rights, Utah Court of Appeals Decisions

COVID, COVID-19, sued for custody

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 after you stopped taking the child to see her because…

Do parents who share joint equal custody pay child support?

Do parents who share joint equal physical custody of their children pay child support? If my spouse and I were to agree to share joint equal physical custody (50-50) of our child or children, would one of us still end…

Can grandma sue for custody/visitation if you stopped taking the child to visit because of COVID-19?

March 4, 2021

Divorce Utah

Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Court Orders, Legal System, Modification of Child Support, Termination of Parental Rights, Utah Court of Appeals Decisions

custody, grandma, grandmother, lawsuit, mom, Parent Time, parental rights, suing

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 after you stopped taking the child to see her because…

What are suggestions for modifying child custody for an alternating weekend schedule if Monday drop-offs are removed and weekdays are not an option?

What are suggestions for modifying child custody for an alternating weekend schedule if Monday drop-offs are removed and weekdays are not an option? Is this a trick question? Correct me if I am mistaken, but if the requirements and restrictions…

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 outcome for oneself?

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 outcome for oneself? It certainly can. It depends upon the…

Why is it difficult for a father to get child custody?

February 13, 2021

Divorce Utah

Best Interest of the Child, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Children in Divorce, Coping With Divorce, Court Orders, Custody, Custody Evaluation, Dirty Tricks, Divorce, Divorce Attorneys, Divorce Court, Divorce Fears, Divorce Law, Divorce Lawyers, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness, Divorce Procedure, Family Law, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Holiday Parent-time, 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, Noncustodial parents, Parent Time, Parentage, Parental Alienation, Parental Fitness, Parental Rights, Parenting Plan, Paternity, Petition to Modify Decree of Divorce, Physical Custody, Preparing for Divorce, Procedure and Evidence, Sole Custody, Uncategorized, Women's Divorce Issues

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Why is it difficult for a father to get child custody? Because there is a pernicious and false belief in far too many of the courts (not, notably, in society at large) that generally: mothers are better parents than fathers;…

Thomas v. Thomas – 2021 UT App – contempt, modification of custody

February 2, 2021

Divorce Utah

Child Abuse, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Children in Divorce, Custody, Dirty Tricks, Divorce, Divorce Fears, Divorce Law, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Men's Divorce Issues, Modification of Child Custody, Modification of Decree of Divorce, Modification of Parent-time, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Parent Time, Parental Alienation, Utah Court of Appeals Decisions, Utah Law, Visitation, Women's Divorce Issues

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Thomas v. Thomas – 2021 UT App 2021 UT App 8 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS JEREMY THOMAS, Appellant, v. JODY TASKER THOMAS, Appellee. Opinion No. 20190242-CA Filed January 22,2021 Fourth District Court, Nephi Department The Honorable Anthony L. Howell…

GAL recommendations are nowhere close to being the best way

GAL recommendations are nowhere close to being the best way to determining the child’s best interest. This post is the thirteenth in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment of guardians ad litem (“GALs”…

Does having the judge interview the children traumatize the children?

December 23, 2020

Divorce Utah

Abuse, Child Abuse, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Child Neglect, Children in Divorce, Court Orders, Court Rules, Custody, Custody Evaluation, Divorce, Divorce Attorneys, Divorce Causes, Divorce Mistakes, Emotional abuse, Family Law, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Firing a Divorce Lawyer, GAL (Guardian ad Litem), Judges, Justice and Equity, Juvenile Court, Legal Custody, Legal System, Modification of Child Custody, Modification of Parent-time, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Noncustodial parents, Physical Custody, Preparing for Divorce, Utah Code, Utah Law, Utah Supreme Court Decisions

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Does having the judge interview the children traumatize the children? This post is the second in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment of guardians ad litem (“GALs” for short) in Utah child…

How do I fight a DUI without a lawyer?

How do I fight a DUI without a lawyer? You don’t. Too much at stake. Too hard to do on your own. I’m a lawyer (a divorce and family law attorney), and although I don’t drink, if I were charged…

Utah Courts “Divorce Education for Children” program is free of charge

September 14, 2020

Divorce Utah

Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Child Support, Children in Divorce, Co-parenting, Custody, Divorce Law, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness

9-12 years old, divorce, divorce education for children, en espanol, free, free of charge, utah courts

The Utah Courts provide a “Divorce Education for Children” program that is free of charge for children 9-12 years of age whose parents are divorcing. More information about the program is provided below. Los Tribunales de Utah proporcionan un programa…

Can I refuse visitation when a non-custodial parent refuses to take a child to school?

August 26, 2020

Divorce Utah

Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Children in Divorce, Custody, Modification of Child Custody

change, child custody, fail, modify, non-custodial, noncustodial, Parent Time, refuse, refuse visitation, school, withhold visitation

Can I refuse visitation when a non-custodial parent refuses to take a child to school? In the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and family law (Utah), the answer is: Unless you have a court order that allows you to refuse…

Do I have a chance in divorce court without a lawyer? Do I really need one?

A chance? Sure. You have a chance. And you have a chance of winning the lottery, just not a very good chance of it. You may not want to read the rest of my answer because I am a lawyer,…

What does a judge ask a child in a custody case?

In Utah (where I practice divorce and child custody law) the answer is: it’s almost impossible to say. Why? For reasons that I assert I can demonstrate are not highly rational*, the majority of judges are extremely reluctant to question…

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 the child during the Chinese coronavirus pandemic? It is reasonable…

Can my ex use the panic over COVID-19 to withhold the kids from me?

March 23, 2020

Divorce Utah

Child Abuse, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Custodial Interference, Custody, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Men's Divorce Issues, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Women's Divorce Issues

child custody, COVID-19, Parent Time, visitation

“Can my ex use the panic over Coronavirus/COVID-19 to withhold the kids from me?” “Will I still be free to pick my son up at the end of the week from his spring break visitation? With all the panic over…

Can my ex use the panic over Coronavirus/COVID-19 to withhold the kids from me?

“Can my ex use the panic over Coronavirus/COVID-19 to withhold the kids from me?” “Will I still be free to pick my son up at the end of the week from his spring break visitation? With all the panic over…