A stepparent may support his or her spouse’s children for years while married to their parent. But, there is no obligation under Utah or U.S. federal law for the stepparent to pay child support for the spouse’s children born from a previous relationship. However, a stepparent can impact the amount of child support that his or her spouse, the biological parent, is required to pay. This can, in effect, cause the stepparent to incur costs from resulting child support increases.…
When can you deny a parent from seeing their child? This may be an uncomfortable question, but it’s a necessary one when it comes to working out the details of visitation rights. Understanding the rules has a lot to do with how the courts view the topic. At Wall & Wall Attorneys at Law, P.C., we understand the nuances behind every divorce, which is why this topic can be more complicated than it first appears. We’ll look at the premise…
When you have a child custody order for time-sharing, you may be confused as to what to do during the COVID-19 pandemic. Should you keep your children with you or let them have the court-ordered time with your former spouse? The simple answer is to let your children spend time with your former spouse as withholding visitation is violating the court order. We Both Agree to Suspend Time-Sharing. What Do We Need to Do? If you both agree to suspend…
It can be challenging to navigate the process of divorce and one of the most important aspects of this process is child support. Child custody, visitation, and child support are all done in the best interests of the child or children. It is critical for everyone to have a firm understanding of child support and the implications that these payments can have on someone’s taxes. With this in mind, there are a few common questions that people have when it…
How do I know if divorce is the right decision? Making the agonizing decision to divorce or not involves a variety of factors, but none weigh heavier than the potential effects of divorce on kids. If you’re worried about going through a divorce with kids, it may put your mind at ease to know that divorce may be the best possible decision you can make. Research has found that conflict in your marriage may affect your child more negatively than…