Utah Divorce Attorney
Divorce, custody, and family law representation across Utah. Remote consultations statewide, in English and Spanish.
Duvanced Law’s office is located in Provo. The firm represents clients across Utah and offers remote consultations statewide.
Divorce & Family Law Cases We Handle
Uncontested & Contested Divorce
Agreed settlements and disputed cases filed in Utah district courts.
Child Custody & Support
Parent-time schedules and support calculations under Utah guidelines.
Property & Asset Division
Homes, retirement accounts, and business interests divided under Utah law.
Spousal Support (Alimony)
Pursuing or defending alimony based on length of marriage and need.
Modifications & Enforcement
Changing existing decrees and enforcing orders the other side ignores.
Paternity Establishment
Legal parentage for unmarried parents so custody and support can be 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.
Counties We Commonly Serve
Provo, Orem, Lehi, American Fork, Spanish Fork, and the rest of Utah Valley.
Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy, Draper, and the surrounding valley cities.
Don't see your county listed? We handle divorce and family matters in any Utah county. Ask about your county
Common Questions
How do I establish paternity in Utah?
Parentage may be established through a valid acknowledgment or a court case, depending on the circumstances. A judicial parentage case can address legal parentage, custody, parent-time, child support, expenses, and related orders.
Can a court order DNA testing?
Yes. In a parentage case, the court may order genetic testing when the statutory requirements are met. Testing should be completed through an authorized, reliable process that preserves identity and chain of custody.
What if the alleged father refuses testing?
The requesting party can ask the court to enforce the testing order. Refusal may lead to sanctions or other legal consequences allowed by statute and rule. A party should not rely on an informal home test when legal parentage is disputed.
What rights does an unmarried father have?
An unmarried father may seek legal recognition of parentage and orders governing custody and parent-time. Until parentage and enforceable orders are established, practical rights may be uncertain. Acting promptly can be important, especially when the child may move or be adopted.
Can paternity be challenged later?
Sometimes, but strict procedural rules and deadlines may apply, particularly when an acknowledgment, presumption, or prior judgment exists. The child’s interests, prior conduct, genetic evidence, and the legal basis for relief can all matter.
How long do paternity cases take?
There is no single duration. Timing depends on service, whether parentage is admitted, genetic testing, disclosures, temporary orders, negotiation, mediation, custody disputes, and the court’s schedule.
Can custody be decided in a paternity case?
Yes. Once parentage and jurisdiction are properly before the court, the case may establish legal custody, physical custody, a parenting plan, and parent-time based on the child’s best interests.
Can child support be ordered in a parentage case?
Yes. The court may establish ongoing support and may address health insurance, medical expenses, child care, and any retroactive amounts authorized by law. The calculation generally follows Utah’s child-support guidelines.
What if another man is listed on the birth certificate?
The existing acknowledgment, presumption, or legal parentage determination must be analyzed before any change is attempted. A birth certificate is important evidence but may not be the only controlling document. Deadlines and necessary parties can be critical.
What happens after paternity is established?
The court can enter enforceable orders concerning custody, parent-time, support, insurance, expenses, and other child-related matters. Legal parentage also carries continuing rights and responsibilities that are not ended merely by a later change in the parents’ relationship.
Can my spouse empty the bank account before divorce?
A spouse may have practical access to a joint account, but taking funds can lead to emergency motions, accounting, reimbursement, or an unequal allocation if the conduct was improper. Preserve statements, monitor accounts lawfully, and seek advice before moving or restricting marital funds.
Can I record conversations with my spouse in Utah?
Utah generally follows a one-party-consent rule for many conversations, but federal law, another state’s law, privacy expectations, court orders, and the location or subject of the recording can complicate the analysis. Never intercept a conversation to which you are not a party without specific legal advice.
Can text messages be used in a divorce case?
Yes, relevant messages can be evidence if properly authenticated and otherwise admissible. Preserve the complete thread, metadata, dates, and device rather than editing or selectively cropping the exchange. Do not impersonate another person or unlawfully access an account.
Does adultery affect divorce in Utah?
Adultery is a statutory ground and may be relevant to alimony or other issues when the legal requirements and causal connection are shown. It does not automatically decide custody or property division, and allegations should be evaluated against the available evidence and strategic value.
How is alimony determined in Utah?
The court evaluates statutory factors that include the recipient’s financial condition and needs, earning capacity, the payor’s ability to provide support, length of the marriage, and other legally relevant circumstances. Alimony is fact-specific and is not calculated by a single statewide formula.
How long does alimony last?
Duration depends on the court’s findings and the decree. Utah law limits alimony in relation to the length of the marriage absent legally sufficient reasons, and payments may end earlier upon a terminating event described by statute or order.
Can alimony be modified?
Alimony may be modified when the decree allows modification and the statutory standard is met, commonly based on a substantial material change not contemplated at entry. A nonmodifiable settlement or jurisdictional limitation can change the analysis.
Can alimony be terminated?
Yes, alimony may terminate under the decree or Utah law, including upon specified events such as death, remarriage, or a legally established basis involving cohabitation. The procedure, evidence, and timing are important; unilateral nonpayment can create arrears.
What happens if my spouse refuses to follow the divorce decree?
The other party may seek enforcement through the court. A motion should identify the exact provision, the conduct violating it, prior attempts to resolve the issue, and the requested remedy. Depending on the facts, relief can include compliance, judgment, make-up time, fees, or contempt-related remedies.
What if my ex will not let me see my child?
Document each denied visit, give clear written notice, and continue complying with your obligations. Seek enforcement or modification through the court rather than retaliating by withholding support or taking the child contrary to the order. Emergency relief may be appropriate when safety or concealment is involved.
Can social media affect a custody case?
Yes. Posts, direct messages, photographs, location information, and third-party comments may become evidence if relevant and authentic. Assume public and private content may be requested in discovery. Do not delete relevant material after a dispute or case is reasonably anticipated.
Should I leave the marital home?
There is no universal answer. Consider safety, children, access to property and records, housing costs, temporary possession, and the practical status quo. In a dangerous situation, safety comes first. Otherwise, obtain case-specific advice before leaving or excluding the other spouse.
What should I do before filing for divorce?
Gather lawful copies of financial, property, tax, insurance, retirement, debt, and child-related records. Identify immediate safety and cash-flow needs, avoid unusual transfers, protect account access, and obtain advice about residence, children, service, and temporary orders.
What mistakes should I avoid during divorce?
Avoid violating orders, hiding or wasting assets, hostile communications, involving children in adult disputes, informal side deals, social-media attacks, destroying evidence, and missing deadlines. Keep records, communicate as if a judge may read the message, and ask before making major financial or parenting changes.
What questions should I ask a divorce lawyer?
Ask about strategy, likely disputed issues, temporary relief, custody and support standards, property and debt treatment, expected disclosures, settlement options, billing, communication, document preservation, and the next concrete steps. Provide both favorable and unfavorable facts so the advice is reliable.
This page provides general information about Utah family law and is not legal advice. Viewing this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.