Family Law Representation in Salt Lake City, Utah
Our Utah family law attorney knows you must be well informed to make important decisions. Legal family issues affect every aspect of our lives including emotional health, happiness and stability. You deserve compassion, responsiveness and direct, insightful communication every step of the way during this difficult time. We are fast, our consultation is free, and we will work to get you results.
How Can a Salt Lake City Family Law Attorney Help Represent Your Case?
Divorce and all legal issues associated with this pivotal life event can be resolved through negotiation, mediation and dynamic representation in trial. Legal elements connected to divorce include custody, visitation and asset and property division. We have over 190 years of combined legal experience helping people through this stage in their life, as well as the compassion and responsiveness to effectively deal with your personal family law issues.
Your best legal support will come from a Family Law Attorney near Salt Lake City who has open communication with you and helps you to make important decisions with the information and insight you need. We can help you with a number of issues related to family law including, but not limited to:
- Asset and property division is a fair and just distribution of marital property and debts.
- Child Custody includes disputed cases. In sole physical custody the most able parent, best equipped to provide a safe, stable and healthy environment is selected. Visitation can be a part of this to help the noncustodial parent continue a relationship with the child.
- Shared custody means that both parents demonstrate the ability to cooperate and communicate in sharing responsibility for a child.
- Visitation involves the creation of comprehensive parenting plans suited to individual family circumstances. They protect your children’s well-being and your vital relationship with them.
- Child support Utah courts recommend that you consult an attorney about child support. This is because calculating child support can be very complicated. It’s possible to limit your consultation to this or other aspects of your case.
- Protection orders are often necessitated when domestic violence is threatened. They may also be requested by a party seeking to gain an advantage in a custody dispute.
- Adoption and guardianship are alternatives that enable other responsible caregivers such as stepparents and grandparents the legal right to make important decisions regarding the welfare and protection of children.
- Paternity actions can be made on behalf of either a mother or father who chooses to take responsibility and seeks to claim custody or visitation rights.
- Prenuptual and Postnuptual Agreements can not only help protect assets, but it can also help clarify any debt issues. We live in a time when divorce is more common, it is always wise to be informed.
- Mediation is required by Utah Law for Divorcing Spouses
- Divorce Modification is the legal process of amending a divorce order issued by a court.
- Virtual Visitation is a broad phrase that refers to any use of technology that a parent uses to keep in contact with his or her child.
- Parental Kidnapping or parental abduction is defined as the concealment, taking, or retention of a child by his parent in violation of the rights of the child’s other parent or another family member.
- Grandparent’s Rights – Grandparents are heavily involved in child rearing in many families, sometimes as the primary caretakers.
- Family Law FAQ – A list of Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law
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Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law
The cost of mediation is determined, in large part by the mediator’s hourly fee. This averages around $100 to $300 per hour, depending on the skill and experience of the mediator. Some mediators also charge for a full-day or half-day session (no matter how much time you use).
Family law is a broad term relates to laws that affect family relationships. This includes divorce, adoption, child custody, and paternity.
A financial affidavit, in family court, is a sworn legal document that outlines your family income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. In most states, both parties in a divorce must complete and file a financial affidavit.
The Family Law Act of 1975, also referred to as FLA, is an Australian piece of legislation that gave the courts much greater latitude in dealing with divorce and family court cases. Just a few of the things that this bill allowed were no-fault divorce and custody discussion about ex-nuptial children. With the enactment of this bill, divorce was granted based on living separately for at least 12 months. It also quickened the divorce process, reducing the waiting period to one month. FLA defines marriage as a ”union between 2 persons, to the exclusion of all others voluntarily entered into for life”. This has been interpreted by the Australian courts to include same-sex marriages and common-law marriages. Although this is an Australian bill, the Utah courts and legislature have used this ground-breaking act as a basis for rulings and legislation in our state.
In general, all court cases are matters of public record. However, in sensitive cases, your attorney can file to have the court records sealed. Exceptions to public records are the identities of minor children and the identities of victims of sexual abuse and crimes.
Some US states recognize live-in relationships when they fall into the parameters of common-law marriage. Essentially, this is when a couple has lived together for so long, they are virtually married. However, each state defines this arrangement somewhat differently. For instance, New Hampshire recognizes common-law status only for inheritance purposes. It’s important to note that Utah is one of the handful of states that accepts common law marriage as a type of marriage. In addition, if the marriage was formed in Utah (or another state that recognizes this status as a valid marriage), the couple will be considered married by the law in other states, even if they do not recognize such unions that are formed in their state.
A family attorney is a lawyer trained and experienced in handling matters that come before the family courts, such as adoption, divorce and custody disputes. He or she represents the best interests of the clients and lends his or her expertise and experience to the proceedings. After all, family law situations are stressful situations. This is no time to be teaching yourself the nuances of the law so that you can represent yourself.
In general, attorney fees are not tax-deductible. However, if they are incurred trying to collect money, such as suing a former spouse for child support, you may be able to deduct them from your tax return. Court fees are never tax-deductible.
View Additional Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law
Contact a Utah Family Law Lawyer Who Will Fight for Your Rights
Call (801) 441-2388 the talented Utah trial lawyers at Wall & Wall Attorneys At Law or contact us online using our Family Law Attorney contact form to discuss your situation and learn about your legal rights. We are an experienced, responsive law firm with the body of knowledge on divorce and family law to help you through the many challenges and concerns about children, assets and debts. Our no obligation case review will provide you with the opportunity to have your personal situation reviewed by a professional family law attorney Salt Lake City.