Utah Divorce & Family Law Blog

New trend could present child custody issues for single parents

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Family Law on Monday, July 13, 2020.

When many Utah residents think of co-parenting, they think of two formerly married parents who divorced but still want to work together to raise their children. However, "co-parenting" also refers to a relatively new trend involving single people coming to an agreement to have a child and parent together but not have any type of romantic relationship. While this option could work for some, it still brings child custody issues to the forefront.

Recent reports indicate that co-parenting has become more popular among individuals who want to have children but do not feel as if they have the time or desire to form a romantic relationship that may or may not lead to children. As a result, individuals can now utilize various websites that work to connect individuals who want to become parents without romantic ties. Prospective parents can look through profiles that list individuals' interests, parenting styles, religious beliefs and more in efforts to find a match.

Facing the unknown and moving on is possible after divorce

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Monday, July 6, 2020.

The idea of making a significant change in life can be daunting. Many Utah residents may delay making such changes because they worry about the repercussions they will face and the unpredictability that comes along with leaving familiarity behind. As a result, some people put off filing for divorce because they think staying in an unhappy relationship that they know is better than stepping into the unknown.

Ending a marriage does not have to be a frightening prospect. Individuals can take the time to help themselves handle the changes that often come along after divorce and allow themselves to heal from the situation. For example, people may be better able to move on and find more satisfaction in life after divorce if they take responsibility for the mistakes they made and find ways to change for the better.

Women often have financial concerns relating to divorce

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

Many people stay in difficult situations because they fear that they will not be able to make it on their own. As a result, numerous individuals remain in unhappy marriages because they worry that they will not be financially stable enough to manage their own affairs. In particular, women in Utah and across the country are often confronted with this concern as they consider divorce.

These financial concerns are prevalent because women often become the primary caregiver to their children, which typically means they do not have an income-generating job. They end up relying on their husbands for financial support, which can work well while a family is together. However, when a relationship turns sour, many people feel that they need to stay due to a lack of income of their own. Fortunately, they can get financial advice to determine their best options for facing this type of situation.

Utah property division: Full disclosure is a requirement

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates on Thursday, June 25, 2020.

Whether a single event prompted your decision to divorce or you have been having marital problems for years, the decision itself no doubt has sparked a series of other issues you and your spouse must resolve in order to achieve a settlement in a Utah court. If you're a parent, your children's well-being is a top priority, especially regarding property division. You want to make sure you can provide for them as you move on in life together.

While you and your spouse may have been financially comfortable during marriage, if you're both not willing to work together to achieve a fair division of assets in divorce, complications may arise that are difficult to resolve. Has your spouse become defensive when you mention finances? Is money missing from a jointly owned bank account? You might have a hidden asset problem on your hands.

Information on divorce could help those struggling to decide

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

Many people wonder why married couples stay together if they are unhappy. What those individuals may not understand is how divorce can significantly change a person's life. It can be difficult to decide that ending a marriage is the right move to make when there are so many uncertainties and stigmas associated with it.

Though many people divorce and it is not as socially polarizing as it once was, it can still be difficult for Utah residents, especially parents, to reconcile changing their lives in such a major way. They may worry that their children will suffer negative effects or be labeled as coming from a broken home. They may also have concerns that trying to find their own personal happiness could be detrimental to the children.

Problems with in-laws could contribute to divorce

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Monday, June 15, 2020.

When people fall in love, they typically think about their futures with that one person. However, when it comes time to tie the knot, they may want to consider that they are not just marrying one person but also marrying into a new family. Unfortunately, problems with in-laws are not uncommon, and if certain issues go too far, they could contribute to divorce.

When dating their future spouse, many Utah residents do their best to overlook any issues brought up by his or her family and try to remain as polite as possible. However, if individuals ignore those issues for too long, they will likely continue even after the marriage. As a result, a person may find him or herself having to deal with overbearing in-laws who have an opinion on everything or who believe that everything their son or daughter-in-law does is wrong. Though standing up to one's parents can be difficult, marital issues could arise if a son or daughter will not stand up for his or her spouse.

Preparing to divorce a narcissist

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.

When starting a relationship, most people want to present their best selves. Once individuals get used to each other, more of their relaxed and true personality may start to show. For some, a person's true colors may not show themselves until after marriage, and it is not always a good thing. In fact, many Utah residents find themselves heading toward divorce after realizing they married a narcissist.

Narcissists can often make their spouses feel as if they have little worth and are always wrong. As a result, this can put a tremendous strain on a relationship, which is why such marriages commonly come to an end. Of course, divorcing narcissists can be difficult because they still maintain the attitude that their spouse is wrong and will do whatever they can to maintain control over the process.

Helpful tips for those struggling with divorce

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

Virtually no couple weds with the end in mind. Yet, nearly half of all marriages in Utah and across the United States end in divorce. Marriages end for a number of reasons. However, nearly every divorce comes with a great deal of emotional and psychological stress. The following tips could be helpful for those going through a marital breakup.

Ending a marriage is an emotionally-charged experience, but it is very important to keep in mind that divorce is a legal process and not dictated by emotions. In most cases, one spouse often feels hurt by the other party's actions, so they may let emotional issues carry more weight in their minds than a court will provide. Try to think of the situation from a legal standpoint instead of a personal point of view.

Dividing debt is among many divorce matters that cause concern

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates posted in Divorce on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.

Getting married can sometimes seem like a dream, and commonly, ending the marriage can seem like a nightmare. With so many details to consider, it is easy for divorcing Utah residents to feel overwhelmed. In particular, they may wonder how certain divorce matters, like dividing debt, will be handled.

Most married couples accumulate some type of debt. Just like assets, debts are divided during property division proceedings. Who gets which debt can depend on various factors, such as whether one person accrued the debt before getting married and who signed any loan document. Typically, if one person signed a loan document or otherwise accumulated the debt, it will be his or her sole responsibility, though that's not always the case. However, if both individuals signed, such as for a mortgage loan, they are both responsible.

Splitting up? Here is how to split your marital property in Utah

On behalf of Kris Greenwood of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates on Saturday, May 23, 2020.

You and your spouse have decided to end your marriage and move forward with your own lives. The question is, exactly which assets will you and your soon-to-be ex take with you?

Property division remains one of the most complicated aspects of the divorce process in Utah and elsewhere. However, having an applied understanding of the process can help you to confidently tackle it as you proceed with your divorce. Here is a look at how Utah courts handle property division during a marital breakup.