Divorce and all legal issues associated with this pivotal life event can be resolved through negotiation, mediation and dynamic representation in trial. Legal elements connected to divorce include custody, visitation and asset and property division. Your best legal support will come from a Salt Lake City family law attorney who has open communication with you and helps you to make important decisions with the information and insight you need. Family lawyer can help you with a number of issues related to family law including, but not limited to:
• Asset and property division is a fair and just distribution of marital property and debts.
• Child Custody includes disputed cases. In sole physical custody the most able parent, best equipped to provide a safe, stable and healthy environment is selected. Visitation can be a part of this to help the noncustodial parent continue a relationship with the child.
• Shared custody means that both parents demonstrate the ability to cooperate and communicate in sharing responsibility for a child.
• Visitation involves the creation of comprehensive parenting plans suited to individual family circumstances. They protect your children’s well-being and your vital relationship with them.
• Child support Utah courts recommend that you consult an attorney about child support. This is because calculating child support can be very complicated. It’s possible to limit your consultation to this or other aspects of your case.
• Protection orders are often necessitated when domestic violence is threatened. They may also be requested by a party seeking to gain an advantage in a custody dispute.
• Adoption and guardianship are alternatives that enable other responsible caregivers such as stepparents and grandparents the legal right to make important decisions regarding the welfare and protection of children.
• Paternity actions can be made on behalf of either a mother or father who chooses to take responsibility and seeks to claim custody or visitation rights.
• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements can not only help protect assets, but it can also help clarify any debt issues. We live in a time when divorce is more common, it is always wise to be informed.
• Mediation is required by Utah Law for Divorcing Spouses
• Divorce Modification is the legal process of amending a divorce order issued by a court.
• Virtual Visitation is a broad phrase that refers to any use of technology that a parent uses to keep in contact with his or her child.
• Parental Kidnapping or parental abduction is defined as the concealment, taking, or retention of a child by his parent in violation of the rights of the child’s other parent or another family member.
• Grandparent’s Rights – Grandparents are heavily involved in child rearing in many families, sometimes as the primary caretakers.
The Family Law Act of 1975, also referred to as FLA, is an Australian piece of legislation that gave the courts much greater latitude in dealing with divorce and family court cases. Just a few of the things that this bill allowed were no-fault divorce and custody discussion about ex-nuptial children. With the enactment of this bill, divorce was granted based on living separately for at least 12 months. It also quickened the divorce process, reducing the waiting period to one month. FLA defines marriage as a” union between 2 persons, to the exclusion of all others voluntarily entered into for life”. This has been interpreted by the Utah courts to include same-sex marriages and common-law marriages. Although this is a Utah bill, the Utah courts and legislature have used this ground-breaking act as a basis for rulings and legislation in our state. The cost of mediation is determined, in large part by the mediator’s hourly fee. This averages around $100 to $300 per hour, depending on the skill and experience of the mediator.
Some mediators also charge for a full-day or half-day session (no matter how much time you use). Some states recognize live-in relationships when they fall into the parameters of common-law marriage. Essentially, this is when a couple has lived together for so long, they are virtually married. However, each state defines this arrangement somewhat differently. It’s important to note that Utah is one of the handful of states that accepts common law marriage as a type of marriage. In addition, if the marriage was formed in Utah (or another state that recognizes this status as a valid marriage), the couple will be considered married by the law in other states, even if they do not recognize such unions that are formed in their state. A family attorney is a lawyer trained and experienced in handling matters that come before the family courts, such as adoption, divorce and custody disputes. He or she represents the best interests of the clients and lends his or her expertise and experience to the proceedings. After all, family law situations are stressful situations. This is no time to be teaching yourself the nuances of the law so that you can represent yourself. In general, attorney fees are not tax-deductible. However, if they are incurred trying to collect money, such as suing a former spouse for child support, you may be able to deduct them from your tax return. Court fees are never tax-deductible.
Things A Family Lawyer Can Do In Salt Lake City, Utah
• Handling Divorce Issues: Undergoing a divorce is probably one of the most draining experiences that a family can face. Emotions may set in and make it impossible for a couple to settle it calmly. In such a case, a family law attorney can act as a mediator, and assist them to approach the issue rationally and within the law. In other words, a competent family law attorney can assist couples in the process of divorcing to settle the matter fairly without necessarily going to court.
• Handling Estates and Wills: A will is a legal document through which people state how they would wish their property to be managed when they die. Family law attorneys are responsible for assisting people in drafting these documents. They also have what it takes to ensure that an estate is administered as stated by a deceased via the will.
• Handling Child Custody Agreements: When a couple separates, one of the most difficult issues to handle has to be what happens to the children. Couples need to agree on how to take care of the children they have had together in the new arrangement. Child custody is defined by an agreement in which both parents have to live with the terms therein. A competent family lawyer can help parents that are parting ways to draft such an agreement. A family law attorney can also help parents in amending child custody agreements if need be.
• Handling Prenuptial Agreements: A prenuptial agreement is a contract signed by a couple prior to a marriage or a civil union. Although the content of such a contract may vary from one case to another, its main aim is to spell out the provisions of spousal support and division of the property in the event of a breakup or a divorce. A family lawyer can assist a couple in drafting a prenuptial agreement and handling any matters that may arise from the contract according to the law.
• Represent Litigants in Court: Although family attorneys can help people to settle family disputes outside court, some of these matters still end up in the courts. In such a case, family lawyers are best suited to help litigants get justice. These attorneys handle such cases almost every other day, and therefore, they have the necessary legal knowledge and practical experience to help litigants to navigate the complex jungles of the family law and ensure that justice is served accordingly.
Private Family Law
Private Family Law cases are those brought forward by individuals. These generally include divorce, civil partnership dissolution and private disputes concerning children. Additionally, they can involve matters such as financial applications, special guardianship orders and orders under s8 of the Children Act 1989 to decide a child’s primary residence, parental contact and other specific disputes. On the other hand, Public Family Law cases are those brought forward by local authorities or an authorised person such as the NSPCC to protect the child. These can include matters such as care orders regarding a child’s parental responsibility, supervision orders to put a child under the supervision of the local authority and emergency protection orders which ensure a child’s immediate safety.
Family Law Arbitration
Arbitration is an out-of-court process and an alternative way to resolve disputes. It is private, confidential and carried out by a trained arbitrator. More often nowadays, family law practice includes a commitment to offering alternative dispute resolution such as arbitration to avoid resorting to potentially stressful court action. Some family lawyers may even have trained as mediators or arbitrators to be able to provide such services to their clients. During family law arbitration, parties enter into an agreement under which they allow the arbitrator to adjudicate a dispute regarding finances or children following a relationship breakdown. They agree to be bound by the reasoned written decision of the arbitrator. Arbitration is often described as faster as and more flexible than formal court decision making. Due to this, it is often more cost-effective than court. However, arbitration is not suitable for everyone. For example, if one party may attempt to hide assets or if one of the parties is in fear of the other or is particularly vulnerable, arbitration may not be suitable.
How Do I Know If I Need a Family Lawyer?
You may want to consult with a family lawyer for any big changes in the family dynamic, including:
• Civil unions and domestic partnerships
• Marriage
• Prenuptial agreements
• Divorce
• Separation
• Property settlements
• Alimony
• Child abuse
• Spousal abuse
• Child custody
• Child kidnapping
• Adoption
Not every family attorney will have experience in all of these categories. Be sure to ask which areas your lawyer practices to confirm that his or her practice areas fit your needs.
How Much Does a Family Lawyer Cost?
Family lawyers typically charge by the hour, though some also use flat rates for simple services like document drafting or reviews. Rates will vary depending on where you live and the complexity of the matter. Set a rate with your lawyer up front so that you know what to expect at the end.
What Should I Expect When Working with a Family Lawyer?
Because the family law practice area is so broad, it’s hard to say exactly what you can expect from a family law proceeding. But in the end, you should have a better defined relationship with your family. In any case, your lawyer should supply you with advice on whether you should take your case to court and how strong your case is. Your lawyer should take you through every step of the process of filing papers or a lawsuit. For document creation or review, you can expect that your family lawyer will create a legally binding agreement that has clear terms you can understand. If you have to go through negotiations or go to court, there is no guarantee that the outcomes will be ideal for you, but having a family lawyer on your side will give you the best information and chance of winning your case. The family can concentrate on healing, and leave the legalities to the lawyers who will:
• File paperwork
• Negotiate with insurance companies
• Value the claim
• Oversee witness statements
• Find and secure expert testimony
• Move the legal process forward
It is important to contact legal counsel soon after the personal injury has occurred. There are statute of limitations laws regarding the timing of different aspects of the legal process. It is important to have a legal representative watching the legal clock of your claim. Personal injury claims are not about punishing the person who did wrong, but about compensating the person who was hurt by the actions of another. If you, or a loved one, have been injured because of the actions of another person or business, contact Salt Lake City Lawyer today to discuss your options.
Salt Lake City UT Lawyer
When you need a team of attorneys on your side in Salt Lake City Utah, please call Ascent Law LLC for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
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