TL;DR: During a divorce in Utah, children may express a preference about which parent they want to live with, but they cannot solely choose. The court will consider the child’s age, maturity, and reasons for their preference, while focusing on their best interests. Going through a divorce brings up countless questions, especially if you have kids. One of the most … Read More
It is every parent’s duty to put their children’s well-being, safety, and best interest above all else. However, this isn’t always simple, and can become even more complicated when the parents are separated. Apart from the usual stress, divorced parents may face different situations that could require intervention from a child custody lawyer. Issues such as child support, visitation schedules, … Read More
TL;DR: Establishing paternity is essential for securing a father’s rights to custody, visitation, and child support. In Utah, it can be done through a Voluntary Declaration of Paternity, administrative orders, or court orders, depending on the situation. When it comes to securing legal rights and responsibilities for both parents and children, the first is establishing paternity. Like most other states, … Read More
Custody battles can be emotionally taxing and filled with confusing legal terms. As a parent, navigating these complexities while trying to secure the best arrangement for your child can feel overwhelming. Two terms you’ll often encounter are physical custody and legal custody. While they might sound similar, they refer to very different aspects of raising a child. This guide will … Read More
Utah custody laws for unmarried parents can be tricky to navigate. Utah has one of the lowest rates of unmarried couples in the country—just 4.9 percent choose to skip tying the knot. While nothing is stopping you from building a life with someone you love and raising kids together without getting married, being an unmarried parent in Utah comes with … Read More
TL;DR: In Utah, child support is calculated using both parents’ income, the number of children, and specific expenses such as healthcare, education, and daycare. The state’s guidelines provide a formula to determine the amount, but adjustments may be made based on individual circumstances. Figuring out child support during a divorce can be one of the trickiest parts, especially when you’re … Read More
The holidays can bring a mix of joy and stress, especially when you’re co-parenting after a separation or divorce. Figuring out drop-offs, pickups, and how to split time with the kids can make an already emotional season feel even more overwhelming. That’s where a child custody holiday schedule comes in. It helps everyone stay on the same page and keeps … Read More
TL;DR: In Utah, child support requires the non-custodial parent to contribute to a child’s well-being until they turn 18 or finish high school. Payments depend on both parents’ incomes, custody arrangements, and additional expenses like healthcare and childcare. Like child custody, child support is often a hot topic in divorce cases in Utah. It’s best to address this issue clearly … Read More
As sad as it sounds, divorce is a reality. In fact, the United States has a higher divorce rate than most parts of the world. According to the CDC, the current divorce rate is just 2.5 per 1,000. Whatever the reasons, when you are getting divorced, you will have to think about a lot of things. But first, you have to … Read More
Divorce is complicated, as a quick look at the Utah divorce code demonstrates. As complicated as divorce is, child custody might be the most challenging aspect of the process – for parents, lawyers, and the courts. There is so much emotion involved and the stakes are so high that child custody cases can exhaust families and lead to less than … Read More