Author Archives: Victoria Cramer
Dealing with Changes to Custody and Visitation Arrangements Caused by COVID-19
Divorced parents are accustomed to raising children amidst changing circumstances, but the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced challenges that many of us have never seen before. Stay at home orders have imposed strict limits on the way we live and complicated many custody and visitation arrangements. We cannot be sure when daily life will more closely… Read More »
Will the U.S. See its Divorce Rate Spike After the COVID-19 Quarantine Ends?
With so many American residents stuck at home with their families, prognosticators have predicted that several months down the road, the country could experience a baby boom and a divorce deluge. Unlike a cozy blizzard that keeps you home from work for a few days, a global pandemic that triggers shelter-in-place orders spreading over multiple… Read More »
How a Coronavirus-related Income Loss Could Affect Your Alimony and Child Support
Many people have faced a job loss or reduction in income due the coronavirus pandemic. In such a case it might be difficult for an ex-spouse paying alimony or a parent sending child support to keep up with their obligation. As these orders are based on the financial circumstances that existed at the time they… Read More »
Who Gets the Stimulus Check When Spouses Are Separated or Divorcing?
Going through a divorce is stressful enough, but the coronavirus pandemic spreading throughout the United States presents additional complications for spouses who have decided to split. In addition to changes that might need to be made regarding custody and visitation arrangements while travel is restricted, negotiations over property division need to address any new economic… Read More »
Communicating With Your Ex About COVID-19 Custody Issues
During a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, family becomes more important than ever, especially for children whose schedules have been disrupted by long-term school closures and the cancellation of other activities. Parents who are divorced or live apart for other reasons know the importance of maintaining healthy communication through difficult situations. Though this situation… Read More »
Child support and guidelines
Can parents (or persons having child’s custody) agree on paying lower child support than the Utah guidelines require? The answer is yes, they can providing they draft specific findings that complying with guidelines will be unjust, inappropriate or not in the best interests of a minor child. If there is no agreement between the parents,… Read More »
Disability and right to counsel
In Summer of 2017 the ACLU of Utah filed a case asking the court to issue a ruling that anyone who is a respondent to legal guardianship proceedings should be entitled to representation. The lawsuit challenged the 2016 Utah law eliminating the need for counsel under some circumstances. The case is ongoing and I will… Read More »
Parenting Plan
Utah Custody Lawyers help Create Parenting Plans When parties are filing their divorce or paternity case and they have children, they are required to file their proposed parenting plan pursuant to U.C.A. Sections 30-3-10.7, 30-3-10.8, 30-3-10.9. Parenting plan can be very detailed and cover topics like parent time schedule, out of town trips, caretakers, right… Read More »
Guardianship/Conservatorship
The guardianship section needs to talk about guardianships for adults and guardianship for minor children. These are two different processes in Utah. The drafters need to review and describe procedures set in Utah Code Ann. §75-5-303 (as amended) specifically, provisions when an attorney or a court visitor needs to be appointed for an incapacitated person;… Read More »
Custody Evaluation
In some cases, it becomes important to have a custody evaluation done. In order to start the process, a petitioning parent has to prepare a motion with supporting documents and ask the court to appoint a custody evaluator. The rules mandate who can be a custody evaluator. A majority of them are Licensed Clinical Social… Read More »