Fathers' Divorce Issues Archives

Do you need a reason to get a divorce?

Do you need a reason to get a divorce? Not really, at least not in the jurisdiction where I practice divorce law (Utah). Even if you get a “no fault” divorce (“no fault divorce” means that you don’t have to…

Allen v. Allen – 2021 UT App 20 – custody, alimony, child support

March 1, 2021

Divorce Utah

Alimony and Support, Child Custody, Child Support, Child Support Enforcement, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Men's Divorce Issues, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Spousal Support, Utah Court of Appeals Decisions, Utah Law, Women's Divorce Issues

alimony, child custody, Child Support, contempt, custody, spousal support, Utah Court of Appeals

Allen v. Allen – 2021 UT App 20 http://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/view.html?court=appopin&opinion=Allen v. Allen20210225_20190369_20.pdf 2021 UT App 20 THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS REBECCA ELLEN ALLEN, Appellee, v. KENT DARIUS ALLEN,Appellant. Opinion No. 20190369-CA Filed February 25, 2021 Third District Court, Salt Lake…

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 do lawyers get paid no matter the results?

Why do lawyers get paid no matter the results? Your question assumes a false fact. Lawyers are not always paid no matter the results. One example is a contingency fee case. A contingency fee case is one in which the…

I was divorced and lied to during my divorce and I am disabled can I take my ex back to court for spousal support?

I was divorced and lied to during my divorce and I am disabled can I take my ex back to court for spousal support? Can you try? Yes. Will you succeed? Probably not. Unless you can prove (not persuade, but…

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;…

Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court?

Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court (pro se)? Why does someone need an attorney when they can just defend themselves in court? It really depends on how you define “need” here. First,…

Are there laws that protect one parent from being a victim of the other parent’s continuous reporting, through the other parent’s attorney, about violations of a restraining order that are all lies?

Are there laws that protect one parent from being a victim of the other parent’s continuous reporting, through the other parent’s attorney, about violations of a restraining order that are all lies? Are there laws that protect one parent from…

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

2021 UT App 8, alienating, animosity, attorney fees, attorney fees and costs on appeal, children, conflicts, contempt, daughter, denying parent-time, derogatory, discussing adult issues with the children, disparaging, divorce, divorce decree, fine, had the ability to comply, Honorable Anthony L. Howell, intentionally failed or refused to do so, joint physical custody, knew what was required, love and affection, Parent Time, parent-time schedule, parenting disputes, primary custody, purge contempt, putting the children in the middle, rule 53, sanctions, son, special master, supervised, suspension of any licenses issued by the state, therapy, thirty days incarceration in county jail, Thomas v. Thomas - 2021 UT App, triangulate, Utah Court of Appeals, Utah Rules of Civil Procedure

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…

What are the Steps for Getting Divorced in Utah?

What are the Steps for Getting Divorced in Utah? To start the divorce process, you must begin by filing what is called a complaint or a petition for divorce with the court. This means you are suing your spouse for…

2020 UT App 171 – Miller v. Miller THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS RYAN MILLER, Appellant, v. BRENDA MILLER, Appellee

2020 UT App 171 – Miller v. Miller THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS RYAN MILLER, Appellant, BRENDA MILLER, Appellee. Opinion No. 20190748-CA Filed December 24, 2020 Second District Court, Farmington Department The Honorable Michael Edwards No. 134701192 Jonathan Hibshman, Marco…

GALs/custody evaluators waste money/time compared to judge interview

GALs and custody evaluators waste too much money and time, and can never provide the same accuracy as a judge’s direct interview of the child. This post is the fifteenth in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody…

I’ve never seen a GAL or custody evaluator add value equal to the fees they charge

I’ve never seen a GAL or custody evaluator add value equal to the fees they charge This post is the fourteenth in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment of guardians ad litem (“GALs”…

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”…

What is the best case law to cite about parental alienation?

What is the best case law to cite during a high conflict custody battle where parental alienation has been occurring? If you know of any, please let me know. My e-mail address is eric@divorceutah.com. Courts are, in my experience, very reluctant…

Which Is Better: spending thousands on GAL/custody evaluator or $0 on a judge interview?

December 25, 2020

Divorce Utah

Child Custody, Children in Divorce, Co-parenting, Coping With Divorce, Custody Evaluation, Divorce Fears, Divorce Law, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness, Evidence, Expert Witnesses, Fathers' Divorce Issues, GAL (Guardian ad Litem), Judges, Men's Divorce Issues, Modification of Child Custody, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Parent Time, Parental Alienation, Parental Fitness, Parenting Plan, Personality Disorders, Physical Custody, Sexual Abuse, Utah Code, Utah Court Rules, Women's Divorce Issues

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Which Is Better: spending thousands on GAL/custody evaluator or $0 on a judge interview? How could it be better to spend thousands on a GAL or custody evaluator when the judge can interview children free of charge? This post is…

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…

What happens after an affair when you have kids?

What happens after an affair when you have kids? I will answer as if this question were asked in the belief that the affair will have a profound effect upon child custody, child support, and/or alimony. If you have had…

Can an unmarried parent legally keep the other parent from the children without having gone to court?

November 13, 2020

Divorce Utah

Child Custody, Children in Divorce, Custody, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Men's Divorce Issues, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Uncategorized, Women's Divorce Issues

child custody, court order, father, mother, police, unmarried parent, unmarried parents

Can an unmarried parent legally keep the other parent from the children without having gone to court? Yes. In the absence of a court order to the contrary, it is not illegal for one parent to keep the children from…

Fathers’ Divorce Issues