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Utah Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Federal Crimes and Criminal Law for Utah on
Q: If I am 16 almost 17 and my bf is 18 almost 19 and we had sex and I got pregnant is there a way to keep him out of jail?

My parents knew about the whole thing they are okay with it. His parents think we only did it once can we just get married? It's utah law.

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 23, 2024

Based on the information provided, it seems unlikely your boyfriend would face legal charges in Utah, even though you are under 18. Here are a few key reasons why:

- Utah's age of consent is 16 years old. This means a 16 or 17 year old can legally consent to having sex with an adult,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Estate Planning for Utah on
Q: I know my father had a family trust. I doubt he ever put me on it. How do I search just in case?

I wasn't notified when my father passed on. My father's favorite 2 children are still living, no contact. He didn't want 3rd girl, my other siblings both died in their 40's, medical issues. My father said way back he had a trust & I was on it but later returned to his... View More

Wesley Winsor
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Wesley Winsor
answered on Jan 22, 2024

I understand your concerns regarding your father's family trust and the uncertainty surrounding your inclusion in it. Trusts are indeed private documents, and it can be challenging to ascertain whether you are a beneficiary without direct communication from the trustee.

To begin your...
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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for Utah on
Q: Police walked in my garage&detained me for not letting em in. Took my phone wouldn’t let me record. Much more.CanIfight

I called on the neighbor but they told them someone lived here had a warrant. He doesn’t live w me & he left earlier but they arrested me & took my phone & pushed me around wouldn’t let me record or call my mom to get my kids & I sat in copCar w cuffs so tight for 2hrs. They... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 21, 2024

In your situation, there are several legal concerns that should be addressed. Firstly, the legality of the police entry into your garage and subsequent actions depend on whether they had a warrant, exigent circumstances, or another legal justification for entry. Without a warrant or exigent... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Utah on
Q: Right of First Refusal

My husband will be going out of town for a week and he has his kids every weekend. He will be gone during that visitation. If they don't have the Right of First Refusal in the decree, as their stepmom, can their mom stop them from spending the weekend with me? From what I read, that would... View More

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Jan 18, 2024

In Utah, the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) typically needs to be specified in the custody decree for it to apply. If the custody decree doesn't include a ROFR provision, your husband may have the discretion to choose who takes care of the children during his absence. Without a specific ROFR... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Trademark for Utah on
Q: Hello gentlemen of Justia,I am starting a new collectible trading card game and I would like to Copyright the name.

I am starting a new collectible trading card game and I would like to Copyright the name before start all the design and PR. Is there a way to check if names are copyrighted or not? And Also, if a name is copyrighted but under another category (videogames for example), what happen?

I would... View More

Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
answered on Jan 15, 2024

The concern is with trademarks, not copyright. You should consult an experienced trademark attorney to review your plan, research existing marks and assist with the selection of a mark that you will be able to register for exclusive use in the relevant market. If the game will be distributed in... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Utah on
Q: What’s the process for getting custody of a child that’s a non family member when parent is an addict.

A family friend dropped their children off 2 weeks ago and has made minimal effort to pick them up. They have lived with me off and on since birth. They have a stable home but chose not to live there, and continue to drag the kids around from place to place leaving them for extended time periods... View More

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Jan 10, 2024

If you are seeking custody of a child who is a non-family member due to concerns about the parent's addiction, the process in Utah typically involves filing a petition for guardianship or custody with the appropriate court. Given that the children have been living with you and the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Gov & Administrative Law, Criminal Law and Legal Malpractice for Utah on
Q: I asked my public defender to file a motion and a affidavit I wrote up.and he told me they don't do that. Is he correct

Or is he not

Catherine Cleveland
Catherine Cleveland
answered on Jan 9, 2024

Your attorney has no obligation to file the documents you drafted.

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1 Answer | Asked in Business Formation, Business Law and Government Contracts for Utah on
Q: When referring to a DBA, is there any other legal term that can be used instead of "a company of.."? Like for websites?
Wesley Winsor
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Wesley Winsor
answered on Jan 9, 2024

It seems like you're inquiring about alternative legal terminology for "a company of..." in the context of a DBA, which stands for "doing business as." Just to clarify, a DBA is simply a declared alias that a company or an individual is using for their business activities.... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Native American Law for Utah on
Q: Where can I purchase 25 usc and 25 cfr .
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jan 6, 2024

You can have those for free online. If you want hard-copy, paperbound books, there are government printing offices (or commercial publishers) that sell them. But if an online reference will do for your needs, you could find those (and other U.S. Codes and Codes of Federal Regulations) online for... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Contracts and Landlord - Tenant for Utah on
Q: Is an addendum a form of a lease?

A non-resident rents a garage and signed an addendum , then the apartment wants to raise the fee 100%.

Wesley Winsor
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Wesley Winsor
answered on Jan 5, 2024

It's essential to review the terms of the contract and the addendum closely. If the agreement specifies a fixed rate for a certain period, any increase that contradicts this would not be permissible. Ensure that the addendum, which is part of the lease, does not grant the landlord the right to... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Landlord - Tenant for Utah on
Q: Is it legal for apartment management to get you sign a lease agreement for the next year before your lease is up?

They say they didn’t require it but they bribe with lower rent if you sign early.

Wesley Winsor
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Wesley Winsor
answered on Jan 5, 2024

Certainly, it's within legal bounds for your apartment management to offer a lease renewal before your current lease concludes, provided they've been transparent about the process. This is often done to ensure tenancy continuity. If they've proposed an incentive for early renewal,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Civil Rights and Landlord - Tenant for Utah on
Q: I submitted my lawsuit complaint on November 17 2023 and it’s hasn’t move from there cant I ask the judge for review

Can I ask the judge to speed up case so I could server defendants to be served

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 2, 2024

If you haven't already, consider consulting with an attorney experienced in civil litigation. They can provide guidance on the best course of action, help with drafting and filing any necessary motions, and ensure that your case is being handled efficiently.

Remember, while the legal...
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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation for Utah on
Q: If the daycare I use broke multiple security procedures. What is the best way of handling this?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 1, 2024

If you discover that your daycare has violated multiple security procedures, the first step is to address the issue directly with the daycare management. Document your concerns and the specific procedures that were breached. Ask for a meeting to discuss these concerns and understand what steps they... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination for Utah on
Q: Is it legal for my boss to discriminate against me because he is having problems with his landlord whi is my father?

My boss for the past several months has started singling me out and telling people not to tell me certain things. When I ask him about this his response and in writing was. "You are Randy's daughter." Randy is his landlord and there having disagreements. So since hes is having... View More

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Dec 29, 2023

Discrimination in the workplace violates various employment laws. In your situation, where your boss is singling you out, excluding you from meetings and events, and paying you significantly less than others in similar positions, you may have grounds for filing a discrimination complaint. It's... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Juvenile Law for Utah on
Q: I (16) got into a fight with a 17 year old and they are charging me with disorderly conduct what will my consequences be

Will my charges be dropped when I’m 18

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 31, 2023

Facing a charge of disorderly conduct at 16 can have varying consequences, depending on the specifics of your case and the laws in Utah. As a minor, your case is likely to be handled through the juvenile justice system, which often focuses more on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

The...
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1 Answer | Asked in Adoption for Utah on
Q: Can I be adopted by my living biological mother since my adoption in Iowa at age 3 cannot be overturned??

I was placed in foster care in September 1983, after my biological father xxx, along with his sister Deborah Zumwalt and his sister in law xx lied to a corrupt young CPS investigator in Iowa, accusing my biological mother of drunkenness, illicit drug use etc., even though my biological father has a... View More

Jason F. Barnes
Jason F. Barnes
answered on Dec 28, 2023

The short answer is, "Maybe". There are factors that need to be addressed and then it is all up to a judge.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for Utah on
Q: When conducting a search warrant can police use excessive force on me and my children even if we are complying?

Police came banging on my door not once did they announce who they were or that they had a search warrant. I grabbed my pitbull and asked if I can put her in the kennel before they completely broke down my door . They kicked it in and all i can see is guns pointing at me and my two children and... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 23, 2023

Under Utah law and the U.S. Constitution, police are required to conduct themselves in a manner that respects your civil rights, even when executing a search warrant. The use of force must be reasonable and proportionate to the situation. Excessive force, especially when you and your children are... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Communications Law and Internet Law for Utah on
Q: How do I report electronic harassment after multiple attempts to stop or block the harasser?

I've been contacted several times from the same person using several different numbers after blocking them each time that is harassing me claiming that I am someone else that they know that owes them a couple hundred bucks and is going to report them (me) to their commanding military officers... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 14, 2024

To address this situation of ongoing electronic harassment, you should first document all instances of communication from the harasser. Even though you've deleted initial conversations, the screenshots and records of subsequent contacts are valuable. Keep a log of all interactions, including... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Utah on
Q: Do I have any claim to the proceeds of the sale of my (soon to be ex) husband's house, where I am listed on the title?

He sold the house 6 months ago, and is holding on to all of the proceeds. We are about to go through a divorce. He is claiming that I have no right to that money. Is he right? My name was on the deed and title.

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Dec 20, 2023

In Utah, if your name is listed on the title and deed of your soon-to-be ex-husband's house, you likely have a legal claim to a share of the proceeds from its sale, even if the sale occurred before the divorce proceedings. The fact that your name is on the title indicates ownership interest in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law and Construction Law for Utah on
Q: My previous client is trying to bill me for a valve he purchased. What legal standing does this have?

I have a very small tile installation business. I am both licensed and insured. I recently completed a shower for a client who claims I cut a hole on a tile "too large" and that the valve wouldn't fit. I cut the hole to a standard valve size which also matched the one below it. He... View More

Wesley Winsor
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Wesley Winsor
answered on Dec 12, 2023

Hello,

You probably have nothing to worry about. The home-owner is likely trying to see if you will pay something. Until he gets an attorney involved, I wouldn't get too worked up abou it. Here is an anlaysis of it though:

In general, the legal standing of a client's...
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