Divorce Attorney in Lehi, Utah
Direct, experienced representation for divorce, custody, and family matters in Lehi and northern Utah County. English and Spanish service available.
Duvanced Law represents clients in Lehi and Utah County from its Provo office. Phone and video consultations are available.
Divorce & Family Law Cases We Handle
Uncontested & Contested Divorce
Agreed settlements and disputed cases filed in Utah County district court.
Child Custody & Support
Parent-time schedules built around Lehi school calendars and commutes.
Property & Asset Division
Homes, equity, retirement accounts, and stock or RSU compensation.
Spousal Support (Alimony)
Alimony claims and defenses for tech-sector and dual-income households.
Modifications & Enforcement
Post-decree changes and enforcement when the other side stops complying.
Paternity Establishment
Parentage orders for unmarried Lehi parents, with custody and support set.
Don't see your specific case?
Family law covers many situations. If yours isn't listed above, just ask.
How Divorce Works in Utah
Understanding the Utah divorce process can make it easier to prepare for the steps ahead. Learn about filing, service of process, waiting periods, financial disclosures, mediation, trial preparation, and the final decree.
Is your case in another Utah county? We also handle divorce and family matters in neighboring counties. See our statewide coverage
Common Questions
How does Utah determine child custody?
Utah courts decide custody and parent-time according to the child’s best interests. The court considers statutory safety factors and may consider parenting ability, the child’s needs and relationships, past caregiving, co-parenting, stability, and other relevant facts. No single factor decides every case.
What is the difference between legal and physical custody?
Legal custody concerns authority to make major decisions for a child. Physical custody concerns where the child lives and the allocation of overnights. The court can order sole or joint arrangements, and legal and physical custody do not have to be awarded in the same form.
How can a father get 50/50 custody in Utah?
A father must focus on the same controlling standard as any parent: the child’s best interests. Relevant evidence may include hands-on caregiving, availability, safe housing, communication, the ability to meet the child’s needs, support for the other parent’s relationship, and a workable schedule. Utah law does not decide custody solely by a parent’s sex.
Does Utah favor mothers in custody cases?
Utah’s custody decision is based on the child’s best interests, not a preference based solely on the biological sex of a parent. The evidence concerning each parent’s relationship with the child, caregiving, safety, judgment, and ability to meet the child’s needs is more important than labels.
What is joint legal custody?
Joint legal custody means both parents share specified rights, duties, and decision-making authority. The order or parenting plan should explain how major decisions are made, how information is exchanged, and how disagreements are addressed.
What is sole custody?
Sole legal custody gives one parent primary authority over major decisions. Sole physical custody generally means the child lives primarily with one parent, while the other parent may receive parent-time. Sole custody does not automatically terminate the other parent’s rights or obligations.
What factors does a Utah court consider in custody cases?
The court must consider safety-related evidence and may consider each parent’s ability to meet the child’s developmental, emotional, educational, medical, and special needs; parenting and co-parenting skills; past caregiving; stability; substance misuse; relationships; and other facts affecting the child’s best interests.
How does a judge decide what is in the child’s best interests?
The judge applies Utah’s statutory factors to the admissible evidence in the particular case. The analysis is child-centered and may include safety, needs, relationships, caregiving history, stability, each parent’s conduct and parenting ability, and whether a proposed schedule is workable.
Can a child choose which parent to live with?
A child does not unilaterally choose custody. The court may consider a sufficiently mature child’s wishes, but those wishes are only one part of the best-interest analysis and are not controlling.
At what age can a child decide where to live?
There is no age at which a minor automatically decides custody. Utah law gives added weight to the desires of a child who is 14 or older, but the court retains responsibility for deciding the child’s best interests.
What is the Utah parent-time schedule?
Utah statutes provide parent-time schedules that may apply when parents do not agree, including schedules based on the child’s age and other circumstances. Parents may agree to a different schedule, and the court may order another arrangement when the child’s best interests require it.
What is minimum parent-time in Utah?
The statutory schedules supply a baseline framework in qualifying cases, not a universal ceiling or guaranteed result. The applicable schedule depends on the child’s age, distance between homes, safety, and court findings. Specific dates and exchanges should be checked against the current statute and order.
Can a parent move out of state with the child?
A move may trigger Utah’s relocation requirements and may require notice, negotiation, or a new court order. The effect depends on distance, the existing order, jurisdiction, timing, and the child’s best interests. Do not relocate a child in violation of an order.
Can a parent move within Utah with the child?
Yes, but a move within Utah can still affect school, transportation, parent-time, and the feasibility of the custody arrangement. A move far enough to qualify as a statutory relocation may trigger additional requirements. Review the current order before moving.
How do I modify custody in Utah?
A party generally must file a modification case and satisfy the legal standard for changing the existing order, including showing the required change in circumstances and that modification serves the child’s best interests. The standard may depend on whether the requested change is substantial or limited.
How do I modify parent-time in Utah?
A parent may seek modification by filing the proper request and establishing the legal basis for a different schedule. The court considers changed circumstances, the existing arrangement, practical problems, safety, and the child’s best interests.
What happens if the other parent violates the custody order?
Document the violation and follow the order yourself unless an emergency makes that impossible. Enforcement may be sought through a motion to enforce or other appropriate relief. The court may order compliance, make-up parent-time, fees, or other remedies supported by law and evidence.
Can grandparents get visitation rights?
In limited circumstances, yes. Utah recognizes a parent’s fundamental authority and presumes the parent’s decision is in the child’s best interests. A grandparent seeking court-ordered visitation must satisfy heightened statutory requirements; disagreement alone is not enough.
What if the other parent will not return the child?
Review the order, communicate in a calm and documented manner, and obtain legal help promptly. Enforcement, law-enforcement assistance in appropriate circumstances, or emergency court relief may be available. Do not use force or violate another provision of the order.
Can custody be changed because of substance abuse?
Substance abuse can support restrictions or modification when the evidence shows an effect on parenting capacity, safety, or the child’s welfare. Courts may consider testing, treatment, supervision, safeguards, and the relationship between the conduct and the child’s best interests.
Can custody be changed because of domestic violence?
Yes. Utah courts must consider evidence of domestic violence and child safety when deciding custody and parent-time. Depending on the facts, the court may impose protective conditions, supervised parent-time, limited exchanges, or another arrangement designed to protect the child and victim.
What is supervised parent-time?
Supervised parent-time requires contact to occur in the presence of an approved person or professional provider. It may be used when the court identifies a safety concern but determines that protected contact remains appropriate. The order should define the supervisor, location, conditions, and any path toward review.
Can a parent lose custody rights?
A parent may lose custody or have parent-time restricted, but termination of parental rights is a separate and more serious proceeding. Custody orders can be modified if the statutory requirements are met. Termination requires specific legal grounds and procedural protections.
Do judges listen to custody evaluators?
A custody evaluator’s opinion may be considered if properly admitted, but the judge makes the final decision. The court may evaluate the expert’s qualifications, methods, information reviewed, assumptions, and consistency with the evidence.
What is reunification therapy?
Reunification therapy is a therapeutic intervention sometimes used to address a damaged or disrupted parent-child relationship. Its goals, provider, confidentiality rules, payment, and relationship to court orders should be clearly defined. It is not appropriate in every case, particularly without careful attention to safety concerns.
This page provides general information about Utah family law and is not legal advice. Viewing this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.