Category Archives: Family Laws
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
The Price of Not Having a Lawyer
Once in a while potential clients ask me whether they need a lawyer in order to handle their divorce. I tell them that although there is no legal requirement to have an attorney, if you have contested issues or unclear on property settlement issues, you may want to consult with an attorney. Once I had… Read More »
New Amendments to Utah Family Laws
Legislative session is over in Utah and the following new family laws entered the legal horizon: 1. Dating Violence Protection Act. Dating parties now can apply for a protective order when one party commits abuse or dating violence against the other party. 2. Established that parties convicted of certain sex offenses may not… Read More »