Utah Family Law Questions & Answers
Q: so I am just wondering if I should get a laywer for my daughter my only thing is I dont have the money for one well
not a down payment my daughter is 11 years old and is getting charged with a felony and a class b misdominer her and a friend went to walmart and on the way in found a credit card went in used the credit card for like 15 .00 than tryed to pull money out at the ATM witch mind you did not work at the... Read more »
Your daughter is entitled to a court-appointed attorney. I am not sure a privately-retained attorney would have much advantage over the public defender in this case.
Hopefully your daughter can get some assistance coping with the losses she has sustained in her young life.
Q: While separated with a child, do the 2 parties involved must keep each other informed of an address change?
Unless there are accusations of domestic violence, it is always a good idea - during separation, while the divorce is pending, and after the divorce is finalized - to keep the other parent informed of any change in address or phone number. Your marriage may be ending, but you are stuck with your... Read more »
Q: Can I subpoena my spouses phone records to prove infidelity and criminal activity so that she could manipulate DV laws?
I dont want to take property or personal belongings from her. I just want to prove that i was not doing anything to make her do those things. I want to protect my finacial sources and truck while im getting divorced. Also i dont know if that would help with possible resopsibilities i might be have... Read more »
Most divorces settle prior to trial. You should have your attorney request the records in discovery. They could be useful in negotiations. Unless you can prove she used marital assets to support her infidelity (gifts, travel expenses, money spent on hotels), you will likely not be able to alter... Read more »
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... Read more »
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.... Read more »
Q: I have to go to court for temporary relief?? Not sure what for or what to expect?
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 that... Read more »
Q: I agreed to let my exhusband take our 15 year old to Spain and he got her a tattoo while there. Can anything be done?
We have joint custody but they have lived with me full time for over a year.
Yes, but . . .
Operating under the assumption that you have joint legal as well as physical custody, it was inappropriate for your ex-husband to allow your minor child to be tattooed without your knowledge or consent. A couple of questions come to mind. 1) What is the battle worth to you?... Read more »
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... Read more »
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... Read more »
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
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, express your... Read more »
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. He usually... Read more »
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... Read more »
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... Read more »
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).
Q: I became pregnant through sexual assault, can I have the fathers parental rights terminated? Where do I terminate?
The assault was in in Kansas, to my knowledge the father is in Montana and I live in alberta. I would like to adobt out to my sister in Utah.
What you are asking is highly complex and the correct answer is fact dependent. Please have your sister contact our office so we can discuss the same. Phone #801-546-3874.
Q: My son is planning on moving out of his mother's house for conflict reasons. Do I have still have to pay child support?
He is 18 and dropped out of high school and is moving out due to conflict with his mom and her husband.
Whether you continue to pay or not depends on your court orders. You should immediately get the matter before the Court for an order changing your child support obligation, whether that is paying your son the child support directly (and the mother also paying her obligation directly to your son)... Read more »
Q: Can my ex take our son out of state if we have joint legal custody / sole physical
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... Read more »
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)
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 as well.... Read more »
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?
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... Read more »
Q: How do i go about collecting for back child support? He is currently 5 months behind and we both live in Utah
The least expensive way is to contact the Utah Office of Recovery Services (ORS) and ask them to collect for you. However, this takes several months. If you are in a hurry and have the means, you can hire a private attorney to enforce the existing child support order, obtain and judgment and... Read more »
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.
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... Read more »
Q: When my girlfriend turns 18 and i marry her, can she legally move in with me even if she has some "disabilities"?
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 18. Working with... Read more »
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 3 times... Read more »
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... Read more »
Q: My child’s father is willing to sign his rights over. He is incarcerated what is my next step?
My husband wants to adopt him and has been in his life since he was 5 months old. I just need to know what paper work I need to file for relinquishment of rights
Normally the relinquishment of rights is part of the paperwork that goes along with proceeding with an adoption. It is best to consult with and retain the assistance of an attorney that deals with stepparent adoptions to assist you in getting all the necessary paperwork to begin and complete your... Read more »
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