Utah Divorce Lawyers and Family Law Attorneys

“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry, and leave us naught but grief and pain, for [once] promised joy.” (Robert Burns, 1785)

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the future we’ve tried to build with a spouse or significant other begins to fall apart. Sometimes it can be salvaged, sometimes it can’t and you find yourself in need of an experienced divorce lawyer in Salt Lake City, Utah.

At J.D. Milliner & Associates, we have many years of experience dealing with the issues commonly involved in divorce cases and, because of our additional backgrounds in business law and trust, estate and probate law, we are also well equipped to assist business owners and professional people through the less common issues that are also involved in their divorces. As a result, our divorce lawyers in Utah County regularly represent small business owners and professional people, such as doctors, lawyers and accountants, in their divorces and related proceedings.

CALL US AT 801-505-5600 FOR A FREE DIVORCE CONSULTATION TODAY!

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Make Sure Your Divorce Attorney is Experienced in Utah Family Law

When your marriage is headed for dissolution, it often feels like the rug’s been pulled out from under you, you’ve had your breath knocked out, and you no longer have any control over your own future or the futures of those you care most about. At these times, it’s vital to have an advisor who can help you understand your family law rights and options, as well as the rights and options of all the parties involved in the process; and to have an advocate who will go to bat for you to achieve the best possible outcome.

As divorce attorneys in Salt Lake City, that’s what we do. We are experienced in the area of Family Law and, because we have lived and worked in Utah for years, we are part of and understand the local culture, including religious issues that may be lost on those who haven’t.

While most of the issues involved in Divorce Law are similar across the country, Divorce Law itself is very state-specific. It’s better to have a divorce lawyer who’s actually been practicing divorce and custody law locally, rather than a franchise of some out-of-state law firm with catchy radio ads. And, don’t be fooled by mediation mills that try to convince you that “divorce without lawyers or courtrooms” is the way to go. At best, they must remain neutral and cannot advise you as to the law and your rights. At worst, they’re attempting to practice law without a license.

Every divorce case must go to mediation before it can go to trial, and most divorce cases actually settle in mediation. It’s far better, however, to go to mediation when the case is actually ready to settle, with an ethical mediator and attorneys who have your back, than to rush into it and either blow what may be your one shot at mediation without reaching a settlement or worse yet, cut a bad deal for yourself and your children because you were not well advised.

Know Your Rights & Have a Game Plan:

J.D. Milliner & Assocaites, P.C. | Divorce & Family Law in Salt Lake City, Utah -- Lobby & ReceptionIn our experience, too many people when faced with an impending divorce simply crumble and give in to unreasonable demands made by their soon-to-be-ex-spouse hoping that things will be better for everyone if they do, or even that the other party may have a change of heart and things may be avoided entirely.

Unfortunately, it seldom works out that way. Too often they come to see us after a few months, or years, have passed since their divorce and they realize that they and/or their children just can’t live with the deal they made. At that point it’s more difficult, and more expensive, to try to undo what’s already been done and get back to what would have been a fair resolution if they’d sought out our assistance early on and stuck to their guns throughout the process.

As divorce attorneys in Salt Lake City, at J.D. Milliner & Associates our approach is to counsel with our clients to make sure they understand what the realistic possibilities and probabilities are, help them set reasonable goals and objectives, and then stake out an aggressive, but reasonable, position early on. By doing this, we retain the respect of the court and usually gain the respect of the other side. Better things happen when you’re respected!

A Good Divorce Lawyer Helps You Understand the Process

Divorce Case Flowchart

flowchart

CALL US AT 801-505-5600 FOR A FREE DIVORCE CONSULTATION TODAY!

To learn more about specific areas of Divorce and Family Law we can assist you with, please click on any of the following links:


Pre- & Post-Nuptial Agreements

Divorce & Family Law FAQs

What Are the Grounds for Divorce in Utah?

In Utah, divorces can be at-fault if certain grounds – such as adultery, violence or addiction – can be proved.  However, the vast majority of divorces are granted based on the no-fault grounds of “irreconcilable differences.”  Importantly, your spouse doesn’t get to decide whether to “give” you a divorce.  All you need is for one of you to have lived in the county, in Utah, where you file your divorce case for at least three consecutive months immediately prior to filing.  But, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be easy to get a divorce on the terms you want.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce in Utah?

A truly uncontested divorce can, at least in theory, be over in 30 days after the petition is filed, which is the required waiting period.  A complex and highly contested divorce can take 3+ years.

Is Hiring a Divorce Lawyer Really Necessary?

You can always represent yourself in court.  And, basic forms are available on the Utah courts’ website.  However, there is a wise old saying that even holds true for attorneys: “He who represents himself has a fool for a client.”  When getting divorced, everything you have in this world, and much of whatever you may yet have – at least for a while, is on the table.  You need to be sure that you have someone who knows what they’re doing, and isn’t nearly as emotionally invested, to sort through the issues and the law, advise you well, go to bat for you as necessary and make sure the final documents are well drafted.  Working with a qualified divorce lawyer is the very best way to protect your rights and interests, and can make all the difference in terms of easing your stress about obtaining a reasonable outcome.

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost?

While you may be able to get a simple and truly uncontested divorce done by an attorney for a flat fee of about $1,500.00, which includes a court filing fee of $300 and change, you will probably have to pay by the hour for anything more complex than that.  Hourly fees for divorce lawyers in Utah run from about $150.00 per hour to about $400.00 per hour, and you usually get what you pay for.  However, there tends to be a point of diminishing returns after about $300.00 per hour.  How much to plan on spending for your entire divorce depends on how complicated it is and how hard your soon-to-be-ex is willing and able to fight you.  At J.D. Milliner & Associates, we handle everything from the most simple to the most complex divorce cases.

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