Divorce
Plain-English guides to filing for divorce in Utah, from paperwork to serving your spouse.
Does Utah Recognize Common Law Marriage?
Utah does recognize a form of common law marriage — but only if a court or administrative order establishes it, and only if that happens during the relationship or within one year after it ends.
Stepparent Adoption in Utah
A Utah stepparent adoption generally requires living with the child for at least six months and either the other biological parent's consent or a court termination of their parental rights.
Adult Guardianship and Conservatorship in Utah
A guardian makes personal and medical decisions for an incapacitated adult; a conservator manages their money and property — and Utah judges are required to consider less restrictive alternatives before granting either.
Legal Name Change in Utah: Step-by-Step Process
Changing your name in Utah generally requires a district court petition, a background-check certification, and — outside of a divorce decree restoring a former name — publication in a newspaper.
Grandparent Visitation Rights in Utah
Utah law starts from a strong presumption that a parent's decision about grandparent visitation is correct — grandparents have to overcome it with clear and convincing evidence of substantial harm to the child.
Prenuptial Agreements in Utah
Utah prenups just need to be written and signed — no notary, no witnesses, no court filing required — but full financial disclosure and one thing prenups can never control: child support.
Legal Separation vs. Divorce in Utah
Utah calls legal separation 'separate maintenance' — it has no 90-day waiting period like divorce does, but unlike no-fault divorce, you have to state actual grounds for it.
Alimony (Spousal Support) in Utah: How It's Calculated
Utah doesn't use a formula for alimony — judges weigh a list of statutory factors, and a 10-year marriage triggers a presumption that both spouses' standards of living should be equalized.
Relocating With Children After a Utah Custody Order
Utah requires 60 days' notice before relocating 150 miles or more with a child under an existing custody order — and the other parent can request a hearing before you go.
Guardianship of a Minor in Utah
How to establish legal guardianship of a minor in Utah — and why it doesn't automatically terminate the parents' own rights the way many people assume.
Utah Default Divorce: What Happens When Your Spouse Never Responds
If your spouse is served with divorce papers and never responds, Utah lets the case proceed to a default — here's how that process works and what it means for the outcome.
Divorce Mediation in Utah: How It Works
Utah generally requires at least one mediation attempt before a divorce or parentage case can go to trial — here's what that actually involves.
Temporary Orders During a Utah Divorce
Utah divorce cases can take a year or more to finalize — a Motion for Temporary Order lets you get urgent decisions about custody, support, and finances resolved while the case is still pending.
Utah Financial Disclosure Requirements in Divorce
Why both spouses have to disclose their full financial picture in a Utah divorce, what the Financial Declaration actually covers, and what happens if someone hides assets.
Establishing Paternity in Utah
The two main ways to legally establish paternity in Utah — a Voluntary Declaration of Paternity, or genetic testing through the Office of Recovery Services — and why the choice matters.
How to Modify Utah Parent-Time
How to change a Utah parent-time (visitation) schedule when circumstances have shifted — and how this differs from modifying custody itself.
How to Modify Utah Child Support
The two ways to qualify for a Utah child support modification — a substantial change in circumstances, or simply enough time passing — and the specific percentage thresholds involved.
How to Modify a Utah Custody Order
What it actually takes to change a Utah custody order — the material and substantial change standard, and why simply wanting a different arrangement isn't enough.
Utah Child Support: How It's Calculated
How Utah's income shares model actually calculates a child support amount, including the 111-overnight rule that changes which worksheet applies.
Utah Uncontested Divorce: Step-by-Step Process
When both spouses agree on the terms, Utah's divorce process is significantly simpler — here's exactly how an uncontested divorce moves from filing to final decree.
How to Respond to Utah Divorce Papers
You've been served with a divorce petition in Utah — here's your deadline, your options for responding, and what happens if you do nothing.
Utah Divorce Forms: Complete List
Every core Utah divorce form explained — what it does, who uses it, and where to get the official version — plus what MyPaperwork can generate for you automatically.
How to File for Divorce in Utah Without a Lawyer
The complete process for filing for divorce in Utah on your own — residency requirements, the 90-day waiting period, forms, cost, and how to serve your spouse.