General Family Law Posts
Bad Legal Advice: taking advice from friends, relatives & coworkers vs. taking advice of a lawyer
Over on my How to Use a Lawyer blog, I posted a blog with the title above. For some reason, this seems to continue to happen all the time, but especially in family law matters, where everyone else seems to know better.
Read More“Common Law” marriage in Utah
At times the issue of common law marriage arises in the context of divorcing parties, or separating parties, or those who need to establish a legal marriage relationship. Utah law on the subject is as follows: 30-1-4.5. Validity of marriage not solemnized. (1) A marriage which is not solemnized according to this chapter shall be legal…
Read MoreThe connection between child support and visitation/parent time: there is none
In Utah, as I imagine it is in most states, child support and visitation are not connected. In other words, just because a parent doesn’t pay court-ordered child support doesn’t mean the non-paying parent doesn’t get visitation with the children. In other words, not receiving child support that you are owed is not a legal…
Read MoreUtah Divorce 90 Day Waiting Period Loophole Closed
In the 2012 legislative session, the Utah legislature passed a law that closed the loophole to the 90 day waiting period to obtain a divorce. The law for some time has been that there is a 90 day waiting period from the date of filing a divorce to the date the divorce can be granted.…
Read MoreMediation requires full disclosure
Today I represented a client at mediation. The mediation did not result in a negotiated agreement that resolved the case. The mediator did a fine job. So why didn’t the case get resolved? The obvious, broad answer is that the parties were unable to reach a compromise, so the real underlying question is, what kept…
Read MoreWhy mediation works
Mediation is generally very successful in family law cases. It provides a safe forum for people to sit down and communicate respectfully regarding their concerns and desires, as well as to have their reality challenged if they are a bit off. The setting is confidential, so nothing that is said in mediation can be used…
Read MoreCrazy making behavior
In our community of family law practitioners, we have heard some local mental health treatment providers use the phrase, “crazy making behavior.” This phrase specifically refers to people who engage in behaviors that make you want to go crazy because they don’t make sense, they are irrational, etc. There are many reasons that a party…
Read More“I don’t understand zero”
There is a saying going around our community of family law practitioners that was started by a domestic commissioner here, “I don’t understand zero.” A parent will be hauled into court for failure to pay child support. The parent will say that they have lost their job, or their income has been reduced for some…
Read MoreFree Legal Clinic October 25, 2011, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
NEWSRELEASE October 5, 2011 UVU’S LEGAL STUDIES PROGRAM TO SPONSOR FREE LEGAL CLINIC Through a joint effort between Utah Valley University’s Legal Studies Program and the local legal community, those in need of legal services will be able to receive free legal advice at a clinic scheduled for Oct. 25 in the UVU Library. “This…
Read MoreUpdated manual on Utah Marriage & Divorce Laws
I just posted over on my How to Use a Lawyer blog about just finding that Steve Averett updated his Utah Marriage & Divorce Laws to the 2010 statute.
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