Child Custody

Utah Family & Divorce Law

Child Custody

Utah Child Custody

At Utah.Law, our attorneys understand that you want to spend as much time with your children as possible and that the stakes are high in a divorce or child custody dispute. We are prepared to protect your parental rights as well as the best interests of your child!

Custody of a minor child means the legal status awarded by a court for the care, control and maintenance of that child. In Utah, custody may be brought as a separate case or as part of divorce, separate maintenance, temporary separation, annulment, parentage, adoption, neglect and dependency, and termination of parental rights. Depending on the type of case, a custody order may be entered by a district court or a juvenile court.
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Regardless of the type of case, custody is governed generally by the custody sections in Utah’s divorce statutes, even if the parties have never been married. Most orders award custody to one or both parents of the minor child. However, a custody order may award custody to another adult, like a grandparent.

Understanding the Types of Child Custody in Utah:

– Legal custody: The right of a parent to make choices regarding their child’s upbringing. This includes a child’s medical care, education, discipline, and religion.
– Physical custody: The right of a parent to have a child live with them.
– Joint custody: Utah law favors joint custody among the parents. Joint custody means that both parents enjoy an equal right to make choices concerning their child’s upbringing.
– Sole custody: Sole custody provides one parent with complete legal and physical custody rights but allows the other parent visitation rights or parent time.

In determining how to award custody of a child, Utah family courts take many factors into consideration but ultimately strive to make an arrangement that will help protect the child’s best interests.
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If you are involved in a child custody dispute, let the attorneys at Utah.Law provide you with the legal guidance and experience necessary to protect your parental rights and your child’s welfare!

Contact an experienced child custody attorney at Utah.Law, P.C. today for a free consultation: 801-999-8529

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We can help answer any of the following common questions regarding child custody:

– Do parents have the child an equal amount of time in joint custody?
– What if the parents want a different visitation schedule?
– Can one parent move the child out of State?
– What if I want to be able to move further away after the divorce?
– What if my ex-spouse is transferred or moves away for some other reason?
– What if the visiting spouse already lives far away or moves before the divorce is final?
– Can my child decide which parent to live with?
– What does “supervised visitation” mean?
– What is a “Guardian ad Litem”?

Can Custody Change in the Future?

Custody modifications refer to changes in custody because of a change in the determining factors. Custody can definitely change in the future. Because the child needs to be in the best situation possible, if the situations change, the custody can be changed as well. Changes can include the environment, job gains or losses, ability to provide, etc.

If you have any further questions, please contact Utah Attorney Donald S. Reay for a free consultation.
Make sure you have an attorney with the experience and dedication you need.