Legal Resources
Legal Resources
At Dolowitz Hunnicutt & Gibbs, we encourage everyone to consult competent legal counsel before making significant decisions or initiating a lawsuit. However, we believe that individuals facing divorce or other family law matters benefit greatly from educating themselves about Utah law and the resources that are available.
Mandatory Education for Parents
If you have minor children, Utah law requires both parents to attend two mandatory courses: Divorce Orientation and a Mandatory Parenting Course. These must be completed before the court will sign temporary orders or grant a final decree.
Child Support Calculator
Utah’s Office of Recovery Services (ORS) provides an online Child Support Calculator to estimate potential child support obligations. It is important to note that this tool provides an estimate only; the final legal amount is determined by the court or ORS using Utah Code guidelines.
Mandatory Education for Parents
If you have minor children, Utah law requires both parents to attend two mandatory courses: Divorce Orientation and a Mandatory Parenting Course. These must be completed before the court will sign temporary orders or grant a final decree.
Child Support Calculator
Utah’s Office of Recovery Services (ORS) provides an online Child Support Calculator to estimate potential child support obligations. It is important to note that this tool provides an estimate only; the final legal amount is determined by the court or ORS using Utah Code guidelines.
Government Websites
Important Statutes
The Utah Legislature has enacted the following important statutes governing family law:
Alimony
Title 81, Chapter 4, Part 5 governs the determination, modification, and termination of spousal support.
Custody Guidelines
Title 81, Chapter 9, Section 202 provides advisory guidelines for custody arrangements, including the right of first refusal.
Child Support Guidelines
Title 81, Chapter 6 outlines the base child support obligation and calculation methods.
Parent-Time Schedules
Title 81, Chapter 9, Part 3 sets the minimum and expanded parent-time schedules for minor children.
Custody Evaluations
Title 81, Chapter 9, Part 5 and Utah Rule of Judicial Administration 4-903 describes the process and requirements for professional custody evaluations.
Premarital and Postnuptial Agreements
Title 81, Chapter 3, Part 2 establishes rules for these legal contracts.
Protective Orders
Title 78B, Chapter 7 is the primary statute for domestic violence protective orders and civil stalking injunctions.
International Custody Disputes
With family law litigation increasingly crossing borders, it is essential to have counsel who understands federal and international law to assist parents in cases involving the wrongful removal or retention of children across international lines. For an overview of these jurisdictional matters, please see James Hunnicutt’s article in the Utah Journal of Family Law: “Hague Convention Actions: A Nuts and Bolts Primer.”