Utah Divorce & Family Law Blog

Is preparing for divorce before the wedding wise?

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Family Law on Monday, October 7, 2019.

Getting married is an exciting time in any Utah resident's life. While many individuals are likely focused on choosing the right venue and caterer, there are other matters that it may be wise to address. Though most couples do not enter into a marriage with the intention to divorce, it is important to prepare for the possibility before tying the knot.

If a couple does choose to end the marriage, it is likely that marital property will be divided. Individuals can prepare for this possibility ahead of time by ensuring that they have paperwork to show that certain assets are separate property. Separate property is typically anything owned before the marriage took place. However, it can be difficult to prove that certain assets were owned prior to marriage, so having documentation before the marriage takes place could prove useful later if needed.

Custody arrangements can affect child support payments

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Family Law on Tuesday, October 1, 2019.

The outcomes of one Utah divorce case can be vastly different from another. This is particularly true when one case involves parents and the other does not. As a result of divorce, one parent may end up having to pay child support, and that detail can be a cause of concern for some.

The way in which child custody arrangements are made can have an impact on who pays child support and how much. For instance, if the custody arrangement results in one parent having primary physical custody of the children, the other parent will typically need to make support payments in order to fulfill his or her financial obligation for the children. Of course, joint custody arrangements could still present a need for child support, and details of the custody agreement will still affect how much each parent pays.

Is it time to divorce, or can you make it work?

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates on Wednesday, September 25, 2019.

You have probably heard people tell you that marriage is hard. Perhaps your own parents told you this on your wedding day, or your friends have tried to comfort you with these words of wisdom. Marriage is not easy, and sometimes you have to work hard to keep it going. However, maybe you are tired of working hard.

You know that every marriage has its good and bad seasons, but you may feel lonely and discouraged if yours hasn't seen good times in a long while. Divorce is a difficult choice, and you certainly don't want to make it hastily, but how do you know when the time is right to just let go and move on with your life?

Maintaining strong relationships after a child custody order

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Family Law on Monday, September 23, 2019.

When Utah parents go through divorce, they are ending their marital relationship but not the relationships they have with their kids. To some parents, it may feel as if this will happen due to the outcomes of child custody proceedings. Luckily, depending on the terms of the custody order, even non-custodial parents can do a lot to stay active in their children's lives.

Parents can maintain strong relationships with their kids by staying in as much contact as possible. If the custody order does not prohibit a non-custodial parent from calling or messaging the children, that parent could check in daily to see how school or other activities went. Additionally, non-custodial parents can stay active in their kids' lives without direct communication with the kids by ensuring that the school administration sends any important messages or notices to both parents.

Paperwork plays an important part during divorce cases

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Monday, September 16, 2019.

Though many Utah residents hope to live long and happy lives with their spouses, the happiness part may be hard to come by. Rather than having smooth sailing in the marriage, many issues could arise that leave individuals thinking about divorce. If a relationship does come to an end, it is important to keep up with the paperwork.

Though holding onto physical copies of records and other documents can seem burdensome, it is important that individuals can easily access documents associated with their cases. In some instances, one party may violate a court order, and the other party may need to provide documentation of the order and how it is being violated. Additionally, the paperwork involved in a case changes hands often, and it is possible for important documents to get misplaced. By having copies on hand, this issue may be less difficult to overcome.

Patience and letting go could be helpful during divorce

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Monday, September 9, 2019.

Though many Utah residents may understand the importance of maintaining their physical health, they may not always think as much about their mental health. However, mental health is just as important as physical health, and it may need some extra attention when individuals are going through a difficult time in life. In particular, focusing on feeling mentally strong while going through a divorce is wise.

Certainly, it can feel difficult to feel mentally and emotionally in control when ending a marriage. It can take a great deal of patience with oneself and with the other individuals involved in the case. Some people like to create conflict, which can be mentally trying, but refraining from giving in to the attempts to fight throughout the case may help an individual feel more in control.

Balancing work and personal life during divorce

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.

Ending a marriage is almost like having another full-time job. As a result, many Utah residents may wonder how they will handle the necessary tasks related to their divorce cases and those related to their office work. Though it may seem overwhelming at times, it can -- and likely must -- be done.

Though many people become adept at balancing their work and personal lives, ending a marriage throws in a number of complications. In efforts to stay on top of work life during this time, it may be worthwhile to consider lessening the likelihood of conflict and contention during the divorce as much as possible. In particular, this may mean presenting a cooperative attitude toward a soon-to-be ex-spouse. Certainly, individuals should keep their best interests in mind, but fighting over every decision will only make matters take longer.

How the court determines if a parent is unfit

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates on Wednesday, August 28, 2019.

While the courts favor joint custody more often these days, there are still times when sole custody may be the better option. The courts want to make sure that the best interests of the child remain at the forefront of child custody arrangements, so if that means that the other parent should have limited and/or supervised access to the children, that may be the decision.

If you find yourself in a situation where you believe the children would be better off with you having sole custody, you will need to show the court why. You will more than likely need to show that your child's other parent is unfit.

Child custody: Supporting children after divorce

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Monday, August 26, 2019.

Ending a marriage can come as a shock to many people. One spouse may not have seen it coming, or both spouses may be surprised that their relationship reached this point. It is also not unusual for any children the couple have to feel shocked and dismayed to learn that their parents are getting divorced, which can often prompt worry in Utah parents, especially in regard to child custody.

Each parent can decide how to approach parenting after ending a marriage. Of course, the child custody agreement could play a role in various decisions that each parent is allowed to make. Still, one way that parents can help their kids with divorce is by being physically and emotionally present with the children. Sometimes, just seeing a parent show up to a sporting event or other activity can be comforting to children, and sometimes, they may need to talk about how they are feeling.

Compensation details that could affect divorce

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Monday, August 19, 2019.

Ending a marriage is a serious endeavor, and various factors can play into the outcomes of the legal process. In particular, the type of income and other compensation that a person generates through his or her employment could have an impact on the property division aspects of divorce. Therefore, it is important that Utah residents assess their compensation structure.

If individuals simply receive a regular salary and do not have bonuses, stock options, commissions or other similar financial benefits, their income may not complicate property division. However, if a person works in a position where he or she may obtain a significant commission on a sale or other deal, it is possible that the person will not want that commission to become marital property that could be divided with a soon-to-be ex. As a result, the person may want to get the divorce underway before earning the commission.