Divorce

Cory R. Wall Can Make a Difference in Your Divorce Case

If you also need legal representation negotiating child visitation and custody arrangements, or need to make modifications to your earlier divorce decree, contact Cory R. Wall  today for a 30 minute free consultation. Cory R. Wall also has experience in father's rights cases, and will make sure that the paternal rights are represented fairly in all divorces.

Divorce Stress

Divorce can be stressful.  We care about you and your family's emotional well being.  Be sure to read our article about Divorce Stress

Divorce Questionaire

If you would like to have Cory R. Wall represent you please complete the following Divorce/Paternity Questionnaire Word Document or to download the form in PDF format click the following Divorce/Paternity Questionnaire PDF File

What to expect during the course of a Utah Divorce Proceeding 

It is sometime overwhelming to anticipate what to expect in the State of Utah for a Divorce either contested or uncontested.

UNCONTESTED DIVORCE INSTRUCTIONS

This information is provided to those persons who are interested in obtaining from Wall & Wall, attorneys, a simple, uncontested divorce. Our fee is based upon the representation by you to us that you do not need to consult with an attorney and obtain advice or counsel, but rather, you and your spouse have agreed upon all issues and merely need the various documents prepared. To that end, the following instructions are provided to you.
1. Divorce Questionnaire:
This document provides us with the basic information necessary to prepare the court papers necessary to commence and conclude your divorce.
2. Child Support Location Information Form:
If you have children from this marriage, this form must be filed with the court at the time the final papers are completed. Please print clearly the information requested.
3. Divorce Education Class:
If you have children from this marriage, each spouse must attend the Divorce Education Class for Parents. This is mandatory unless one spouse lives out of state, or is incapacitated in some way from attending, in which event a motion must be filed with the court to waive the requirement. There is an additional charge for this service. After you and your spouse have completed the course, which need not be taken together, you both need to send to us the certificate they provide to you proving that you have attended the class.
4. Service of Papers:
The law requires that the spouse who is not filing for divorce be served with papers, or, that he or she sign an acknowledgement that he or she has received a copy of the Petition for Divorce and the Summons. If your spouse will sign the acknowledgement, termed an "Acceptance of Service, Waiver, and Consent to Default", he or she will not need to be actually served by a constable or the sheriff's office. If such service can be avoided it will save you approximately $20.00. You need to notify us if your spouse with sign the acceptance and make arrangements with us as to how that is to be handled. Your spouse needs to sign nothing else.
5. Affidavit:
The only thing you, as the filing party, need to sign is an affidavit verifying your residency and briefly describing the grounds for divorce. This can be prepared any time, but must be presented along with the final papers before the court can sign the Decree of Divorce. You need to make arrangements to sign this affidavit.
6. Proof of Income:
If you have children from this marriage, both you and your spouse must submit to us proof of your current income. The court requires that you each submit a copy of the last Federal Income Tax return submitted by you. If you filed jointly you only need submit one copy. In addition, you will each need to submit a recent pay stub (provided each of you are employed), or a statement from your employer on their letterhead stationery, verifying your gross monthly income, and including your monthly withholdings.
7. Time schedule for completing divorce:
Under Utah law you must wait 90 days from the date you file your divorce action until the final papers can be submitted to the court. However, if you have children from this marriage, the divorce can be completed as soon as you and your spouse complete the divorce education class, and provide us with your income verification information and copies of the certificates from the divorce education class.
8. Visitation and Child Support Payments:
Whether the Decree of Divorce results from a contested or uncontested case, the rules governing the interpretation and enforcement of terms of the Decree remain identical. Very often one party is awarded the sole custody of the child or children. The other party is usually awarded reasonable rights of visitation. The Utah Legislature has established MINIMUM visitation rights if the parties are unable to agree, and these can be provided to you.

Child support and visitation are independent as far as the court is concerned. That is, a parent has the right to see his children regardless of making child support payments. The other parent does not have the right to withhold visitation from the other parent whether or not the child support and/or alimony payments are being made properly The appropriate way to deal with these problems is to bring the party into court where he/she will be ordered to obey the divorce decree or face punishment for contempt of court. This applies to both failure to pay child support as well as failure to allow the other parent proper access to the children.
9. Alimony:
It a party who could request alimony payments chooses to waive (give up his/her rights to) alimony and the court does not grant alimony in its decree, that party probably cannot later petition the court for alimony. There are exceptions, but these are extremely rare and very unusual. If you want alimony, now or in the future, now is the time to ask for some amount. If you may need it in the future but don't need it now, you should ask for a minimal amount, but even in these situations seeking an increase in the future is very difficult.
10. Parenting Plan:
In either a contested or uncontested divorce, if either parent seeks or is awarded joint legal or joint physical custody--they are different--then a parenting plan must be filed with the court along with the other necessary papers. This is required under a new law that went into effect in May, 2002. There is an added cost to prepare such a plan, and that cost depends on how complex the plan must be.

ADDITIONAL REMARKS
This system is designed to enable you to complete your divorce in the most economical manner possible, and is provided to those who do not feel they need the assistance or counsel of an attorney for other than preparing the various legal documents necessary for the divorce. The fee quoted to you does not include time for counseling with an attorney. This service is available, as are other services, all of which we are happy to provide to anyone requesting them. The costs involved will depend upon what your attorney charges and the question of costs should be discussed with him.

CONTESTED DIVORCE INSTRUCTIONS

Divorce Education Mandatory Course Information

You will be required to attend a divorce education course. The specific instructions and calendar for the course are on the following link. Divorce Course Instructions It is important that you read the instructions because a divorce will not be granted in the state of Utah without both parties fulfilling these requirements.

Your Financial Declaration

You will be required to complete a Financial Declaration 3rd District (Excel).  We have set this document up for our clients in an excel format to assist you with the totaling of the figures.  Please print out this document to submit to our office. 

Documents to obtain for your divorce

There are several other documents that you will be required to produce.  See theDisclosure Checklist Form  (Word Document) to review the documents that you need to gather together and bring to our office. 

Utah Visitation Schedule

One of the most frequent questions that our clients have is regarding their NEW Visitation Schedule that they can expect with their children.  We compiled the following documents for you of the Utah Statutory Visitation Schedule. 

Divorce Mediation

If you are getting reading for a divorce mediation.  We recommend reading the following handout.  Divorce Mediation Program Handout (Word Document)

Top Divorce Do's and Don'ts

You may want to review our recommended Top Divorce Do's and Don'ts

If you have any questions about this page, please email Cory at cory.wall@walllegalsolutions.com

To make a free 30 minute initial consultation with Cory R. Wall please call (801) 274-3100 or click here to read Cory R. Wall's profile Attorney

 

 

The family-owned law firm of Wall & Wall, P.C., in Salt Lake City, Utah, represents clients throughout the entire state of Utah, including the areas surrounding SLC such as Provo, Ogden, Farmington, Tooele, Park City, Heber City, Woods Cross, Bountiful and St. George.