Salt Lake City Divorce Attorney

A divorce lawyer can advise you on Utah laws and local court practices. Your lawyer will file your petition for divorce, champion your interests, appeal if appropriate, and petition for modifications if necessary. David Pedrazas will keep your best interests at the forefront of court proceedings. The dissolution of a marriage involves many important decisions, including division of assets & division of debts, child custody and visitation, child support, alimony, and much more. Having a good rapport with your divorce lawyer is key, and it makes a difficult time that much easier to navigate.

To preserve your assets and interests, seek legal advice before the divorce. Here are some instances when you can consider talking to a divorce attorney:

• You need to get divorced
• You think you want to get divorced, but want to know what your options are
• You have been served with divorce papers.
• Your spouse is talking to a divorce lawyer.
• You think your spouse wants a divorce and maybe intentionally hiding or spending your marital assets.

The earlier you understand the Utah divorce process, the better prepared you'll be to obtain the outcome you want and need. Call for a consultation as soon as you know you want a divorce

Modern Utah law does not expect either spouse to prove the other's wrongdoing. If the marriage problems cannot be resolved, you're entitled to a divorce. A no-fault divorce case allows the couple to come to an agreement on their own and avoid the strain and tension that comes with the trial. In Utah, a couple can file for a no-fault divorce if they have stayed for three consecutive years without cohabiting or if they have grounds for irreconcilable differences.

It begins with a petition to the court. Followed by the court decision, and a 90-day wait to finalize the divorce. Either spouse may appeal the court's final decree. In the most general of terms, how long a divorce will take and each aspect of it will be determined by how willing both of the parties are to cooperate with the proceedings. If you are in the process of getting a divorce or are considering it, it is worth your time to look into what are the laws and regulations.

It all depends! Courtroom hearings are the most expensive part of Utah divorces but are sometimes avoidable. An experienced divorce lawyer can save you money in the long run by making sure proper paperwork is ironclad, filed on time, and completed right the first time. Your divorce lawyer will charge you by the hour, and keep tabs on court costs. Schedule an initial legal consultation to learn about potential legal and administrative fees.

In many divorces, the court directs the higher-earning spouse to pay spousal support. If you have children, their best interests are the court's primary concern. Under the provisions of Utah Code §30-5-5.8, there are several factors that will influence the judge’s decision to award or deny a request for alimony payments.

Your divorce lawyer will help you argue that awarding your primary custody is in your child’s best interest—especially if you have always been the child's main caregiver.

A contested divorce will go into courtroom proceedings unless the other side can be persuaded to come to an agreement.

Explain the facts of your situation, to help your lawyer be your best possible advocate. Your lawyer will diligently guard your privacy—and your children's.

The court strives for an "equitable division" of assets. Your divorce lawyer can explain what financial factors the court will consider, and how the home might be titled after divorce.

No. Divorcing spouses are opposing parties in legal action—even if they agree on how to divide their assets and responsibilities.

Choosing an experienced, caring and diligent divorce attorney is the best way to achieve a fair outcome that meets Utah divorce law standards. For twenty years, David Pedrazas has practiced family law and helped thousands of clients through stressful court appearances and mediation. Specializing in families and more, The Law Office of David Pedrazas offers representation for the following:

If one spouse doesn't want a divorce, the couple has a contested divorce case. A divorce attorney can provide legal advice and guidance. The American Bar Association estimates that approximately 5 percent of divorces are contested in court. If you and your spouse simply cannot agree on matters, you need a proven Salt Lake City divorce lawyer who can stand by you throughout the process and fight to defend your personal interests.

Your Utah divorce lawyer can urge the court to consider your spouse's treatment of you when drafting the divorce decree.

If you need help figuring out what your monthly Child Support Payments in Utah should be, check out our Calculating Child Support Payments in Utah page for helpful information on Child Support payments in Utah and a link to the Utah Office of Recovery Services Child Support Calculator.