TL;DR: Deciding between legal separation and divorce in Utah depends on your goals and family situation. Legal separation keeps you married but divides finances and sets custody rules, while divorce ends the marriage completely, affecting property, benefits, and remarriage options. Marriages can take turns that push couples to go their separate ways. But ending a marriage is no easy decision, … Read More
How Estate Planning Lawyers Help Protect Your Wishes
Estate planning is the process of articulating an individual’s preferences for the management of their asset and affairs in the event of their death or incapacitation. Comprehensive estate planning includes vital documents such as wills, trusts, health directives, and more. These are typically used to address critical issues like asset distribution and guardianship arrangements for children. While embarking on this … Read More
Choosing the Right Divorce Process in Utah
When you and your spouse decide to part ways, there are usually two ways to handle the situation. Depending on the road you take, your divorce will be classified as uncontested or contested in Utah. Sure, the dissolution of a marriage is far more nuanced, but understanding the key differences between these proceedings can help make the Utah divorce process … Read More
How Utah Courts Determine Child Custody
When a marriage dissolves, emotions run high, and children often find themselves caught in the crossfire. As a parent, it’s up to you to protect them from emotional turmoil and ensure they retain a sense of balance and normalcy. One way to do this is to draft a custody arrangement with your family law attorney in Utah. Child custody refers … Read More
Utah Child Custody Laws Every Parent Should Know
TL;DR: Utah child custody laws address legal custody, physical custody, parent time, and decisions affecting a child’s upbringing. Courts focus on the child’s best interests when deciding custody arrangements. Parents should know the differences between joint and sole custody, how parenting schedules work, and which factors courts may review during custody cases. When parents decide to separate or divorce, their … Read More
What is the Difference Between Elder Law and Estate Planning?
When a new client comes to see us, they’re often eager to confirm their assets pass on to their heirs with as little as possible in taxes/other expenses. However, while prepping for a future you won’t live to see is important, you’ll also need to address the bigger, more difficult question: “What happens if I live but can’t take care … Read More
Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples in Utah
TL;DR: If you are an unmarried couple in Utah, estate planning helps you protect your partner and assets. Without legal documents, your partner may not receive property or decision-making rights, so clear planning gives you more control. Utah has always had a higher marriage rate than the national average. However, between 2011 and 2021, Utah’s marriage rate dropped 18.6%. It went from … Read More
What to Expect During a Utah Divorce Case
TL;DR: Filing for divorce in Utah starts with a petition, moves through serving your spouse, optional temporary orders, gathering documents, and negotiating a settlement or going to trial. After a mandatory 30-day waiting period, a judge issues the final decree. An attorney helps you avoid costly mistakes throughout. Ending a marriage is one of the hardest things many people have … Read More
How Long Does a Divorce Process Take in Utah?
TL;DR: In Utah, an uncontested divorce can wrap up in 30 to 90 days, while contested divorces typically take six months to a year or longer. Key factors affecting your timeline include whether children are involved, mandatory mediation, education classes, court availability, and whether either party files an appeal. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you … Read More
Key Signs You Need an Elder Law Attorney in Utah
TL;DR: An elder law attorney can help Utah seniors and their families address estate planning, long-term care, Medicaid planning, powers of attorney, guardianship, probate, and financial concerns. Legal guidance may become useful as care or financial needs change, especially when families need help planning future decisions or protecting an older adult’s interests. As you or your loved ones enter their … Read More