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Utah Child Custody Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Utah on
Q: Is a paper signed out of court a legal guardianship doc? How do I find my children? Where do I start?

Aprox. 5 years ago my 3 children were taken by their father while I was in jail a couple days due to my children not having a guardian in which I had signed a paper of temporary guardianship to my daughters best friends mother which was in effect the day they were taken. Since they were taken they... View More

Brian Craig
Brian Craig
answered on Jul 13, 2019

That sounds like a challenging situation. A parent could first report the children missing with the police. If you can afford one, you might consider hiring a private investigator to help locate the temporary guardian and children. Skip tracing services are also available (Google "skip tracing... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Child Custody for Utah on
Q: Need to find a family law attorney asap to represent myself in divorce invil ing a child born in the marriage not by hus

Husband and I did not live together between 2006 and 2016 never reconciled and he wants custody of second child not his he ordered child support for but he never paid cuz she's not his kid and claimed her on his taxes four yrs in a row and I want this resolved. Custody returned to her natural... View More

Brian Craig
Brian Craig
answered on Jul 8, 2019

This sounds like a complicated matter where you need an experienced family law attorney. The best interests of the child test governs child custody matters. You can find lots of family law attorneys here on Justia.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Utah on
Q: I have to go to court for temporary relief?? Not sure what for or what to expect?
Jaclyn Jane Robertson
Jaclyn Jane Robertson
answered on Jun 28, 2019

Hi. Happy to help, but first need a little more information. I'm assuming this is for a pending divorce action. If so, you should have received a Motion for Temporary Relief as well as other supporting documents. That Motion will outline the relief being sought.

We have a video...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Utah on
Q: What can I do?

My oldest son lives with his father. His father has sole custody (I have sole custody of our other child). My son was abused by his stepmother. DCFS is involved. Justice court is involved. I was not given information about the trial nor was I informed that the prosecutor had been changed. I thought... View More

Mike Branum
Mike Branum
answered on Jun 20, 2019

Regardless of what was SUPPOSED to have happened, you should take an active interest in this case if you are willing to take custody of your oldest son. If you are NOT willing to take custody and just have hurt feelings because you were not notified, I believe you are out of luck. Hopefully you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Family Law for Utah on
Q: Can I get 50/50 custody or any legal rights of my non biological son?

I got with my ex when she was pregnant, found out she cheated on me at least twice since he was born. I left two months before his third birthday in April 2017, had him every other weekend until October 2018 when I offered to pay half his daycare to get 50/50 custody and have had him every other... View More

Brian Craig
Brian Craig
answered on Jul 5, 2019

A person other than a biological parent, such as a grandparent or a step-parent, may petition the court for custody and visitation of a child in Utah. But there must be special circumstances for the court to award custody and visitation to a person who is not a parent.

Utah Code Ann. sec....
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Utah on
Q: I have recently found out my son's dad is never home with his son and his dad girlfriend has been taking care of my son

Since his dad is failing on taking care of him can I pick up my son to live with me no custody has been established

Mike Branum
Mike Branum
answered on May 24, 2019

It sounds like you have some type of informal, verbal agreement for custody. You would be ill-advised to just "pick up your son to live with you" regardless of a formal custody agreement.

The first step, in my opinion, would be to have a conversation with the child's father,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Utah on
Q: Joint custody and child abused in other home... do we have to take her back there?

My husband has joint custody of his daughter. We recently found out that she is being mentally, Physically, and sexually abused in her mothers home. We have already filed a case with child protective services but we fear her mother will retaliate against her if she goes back home. Can we keep her... View More

Mike Branum
Mike Branum
answered on Apr 18, 2019

You would need to file a petition in Juvenile Court. See https://www.utcourts.gov/abuse/child.html for the form or seek advice from a licensed attorney who practices in the Fifth District (Washington and Iron Counties).

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Utah on
Q: Can I record mine and my step-child's in person conversations?

The childs father and I are trying for full custody, as we believe the child is being neglected, emotionally and physically. I am currently taking pictures of what I can and writing down everything he says it's happening there. He's not getting fed, and he's rarely in clean clothes.... View More

Mike Branum
Mike Branum
answered on Apr 18, 2019

Utah law only requires one party to the conversation be aware a recording is being made, so, yes, you may legally record the conversations with or without his knowledge. As far as helping your case, requesting the appointment of a guardian ad litem would probably be more advantageous than your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Civil Rights for Utah on
Q: I am trying to get my son back from my ex boy friends sister. She will not release him to me. How can I get my son

My ex was arrested for murder. My son is in custody with my ex boyfriends aunt. There is no custody arrangement. I just want to get my son I have been trying for the last 2 years but the father would not let me see him and left with my son to another state. I have spoke with law enforcement and... View More

Wesley Winsor
PREMIUM
Wesley Winsor
answered on Mar 4, 2019

Hi,

I am not a family law attorney, but as I understand it, as long as your parental rights have not been terminated, your custodial rights should trump anyone else's except for maybe the father.

So if you just picked him up and took him home, it would be in within your...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Utah on
Q: I have raised my nephew as my son, my sister has been collecting child support for him do i have a right to sue her?

he has been with me since he was 2 1/2 ( all verbal agreement)

Wesley Winsor
PREMIUM
Wesley Winsor
answered on Feb 1, 2019

If you are doing it voluntarily, then no you don't have a right to sue her. She is supposed to be using the funds she is collecting to take care of her son. If she isn't, then the son has a claim or the father has a claim against her. If you are the guardian of the son then you might... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Utah on
Q: Can my ex take our son out of state if we have joint legal custody / sole physical
Wesley Winsor
PREMIUM
Wesley Winsor
answered on Feb 1, 2019

this is not really my area of law here, so I would encourage you to seek more advice, but to my understanding, if the ex has sole physical custody, then they can decide where to live independent of your preferences. You still have a say in medical decisions and other areas, but they have... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Divorce and Family Law for Utah on
Q: I need to get a separation and don’t know where to start? Worried about income differences?

My husband has anger issues, pornographery issues w/cross dressing. Is it possible for me to file for a legal separation and somehow demand that he complete therapy before having overnight visits with our kids? Also, since I make more money, do I have to pay him?

T. J. Jesky
T. J. Jesky
answered on Sep 24, 2018

Generally speaking, those who choose legal separation instead of divorce is usually based on religious beliefs, a desire to keep the family together legally for the sake of children, or the need for one spouse to keep the health insurance benefits that would be lost with a divorce.

A...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Utah on
Q: Does my ex have the right to refuse me taking my kids overnight just because he wants to meet my boyfriend?

My ex says "I'm not having my girls over there (my place) until I meet him and talk to him for 2 minutes." And he also doesn't want me around while he does this.

Paul Waldron
Paul Waldron
answered on Jun 8, 2018

It depends on the terms of the court orders. Generally, the other parent cannot control who the other fparent allows to be around the children. However, if there are no court orders, whoever has the children has custody and you are stuck with what your boyfriend may agree to until you get court... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Utah on
Q: With uninterrupted parent time during the summer must the parent be with the child during that time?

My husbands ex-wife is trying to send their daughter to another state during her uninterrupted parent time to be with a family member and she will not be with their daughter during this time. They have 50/50 joint physical and legal custody.

Paul Waldron
Paul Waldron
answered on May 31, 2018

More information is needed regarding your husband's situation. In order to answer your question it is important to know the specific terms of your husband's Decree of Divorce and any other orders and facts in your husband's divorce case. One question, for example, is whether or not... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Utah on
Q: When my girlfriend turns 18 and i marry her, can she legally move in with me even if she has some "disabilities"?
Paul Waldron
Paul Waldron
answered on May 31, 2018

It depends on your girlfriend's level of "disabilities" and whether or not someone else has guardianship of her. Otherwise, generally speaking, without any other information regarding your situation, there is nothing stopping your girlfriend from moving in with you when she turns... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Utah on
Q: How hard is it to get full custodial/ parental rights for my two kids?

Kids were born between 2004 -2007. The father and I were never married and I've been their only supporter during this time. The father and I separated in 2008 when he moved to Idaho, and I've been supporting them solely ever since. There is a court order for child support which was paid... View More

Paul Waldron
Paul Waldron
answered on Mar 16, 2018

Generally speaking, without any other information regarding your situation, your chances of getting sole custody completed through the court system is 100%, as long as you can get the father served with the court papers. De facto, you have 100% sole custody right now, so it is unclear why you want... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Probate for Utah on
Q: If a mom passes away and has a will for her kids to go to family will the courts go from her will. Or will dad?
William Tyler Melling
William Tyler Melling
answered on Jan 29, 2018

It depends. Ultimately, child custody is determined by a judge. However, the nomination of someone in a deceased person's Will is taken into account. When another parent is still living, the children will usually go with that parent.

Finances, on the other hand, are 100% determined by...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Civil Rights and Juvenile Law for Utah on
Q: I was put into dcfs codtody flatly accused of meltesting a sib was proven not guilty about adulthood can i sew

The charges were never taken care of messed up my hole life can i sew state for messing my entire life up

Catherine Cleveland
Catherine Cleveland
answered on Jan 11, 2018

No, you cannot sue the State for charging you with a crime.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Divorce for Utah on
Q: My boyfriend is finally getting a divorce from his ex does she have a right to say I can’t be around the kids? Legally.

He lives with me and so it is pretty hard for me not to be around them

Paul Waldron
Paul Waldron
answered on Oct 18, 2017

Legally, it will depend on the terms of the court orders. Generally, a former spouse cannot control who the other former spouse allows to be around the children, but it depends on what your boyfriend may agree to as divorce settlement. Unless you are an ax murderer, drug abuser, child abuser,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Civil Rights and Family Law for Utah on
Q: If no custody order is in place can my ex keep my son from me . can I go get him with a police officer
William C. Head
William C. Head pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Aug 22, 2017

This issue needs a local lawyer to assist you. Plus, reading this question, the first thing that comes to an attorney's mind is, "What did you OMIT from this question?"

The fact that she is "keeping" your son from you raises a red flag.

Have you legitimized...
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