We are living in a world where marriage and divorce go hand in hand, which is a sad reality. There may be a silver lining because Millennials are driving divorce rates downward. And we are in need of more divorce lawyer in Utah.
A study released by Professor Philip Cohen of the University of Maryland shows that the U.S. divorce rate has dropped by 18% from 2008 to 2016.
Millennials are part of the reason for the declining rate of divorce because they are waiting until they are older before they get married. They are also staying married for a longer period.
Here in Utah, couples who marry have a 15.97% of filing for divorce based on a report from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Couples tend to marry quite young in Utah with the median age of marriage at 24 for women and 26 for men.
Despite the lowering divorce rates, the number of divorce cases that are filed in America is still high, being the 6th highest rate in the whole world.
Imagine a divorce taking place every 13 seconds in America, which equates to 2,419,196 cases per year.
Expect People to Judge You and Ask Questions
Once the news about your divorce leaks, you can expect people to meddle by asking questions.
People you may barely know may talk to you all of a sudden with flagrant comments and personal questions.
Try to steer clear and avoid responding in detail for the sake of your children.
Friends and family members may take sides or disappear altogether. Even if you are the spouse who has been cheated on, there are still people who may not take your side.
Be prepared for such scenarios, which are all part of the emotionally draining and stressful divorce situation.
Utah Mandates Divorcing Couples to Attend a Divorce Education Class
There is a required divorce orientation and education course that couples must complete in Utah. Utah legislators have made it mandatory for divorcing couples to attend the classes or risk your divorce not getting finalized.
The one time class is only for couples who have minor children as it tackles custody and child support topics, divorce proceedings, and expectations after divorce.
Unmarried parents who are in a custody case or visitation case may be required to attend the divorce education classes.
The Utah family court will not issue a divorce decree until both parents have completed the classes and have provided the court with a certificate of course completion.
The Orientation Course
For the divorce petitioner, you are required to attend the Divorce Orientation course no later than 60 days after you file your case.
Your spouse or respondent is required to attend the course no later than 30 days after being served with the petition.
If you want to file temporary orders of any kind from a Utah family court, you need to complete the courses if you want a judge to consider such a motion.
The orientation course educates Utah parents about divorce issues, alternatives, and resources available. Topics include the following:
- What are the positive and negative consequences of divorce?
- Useful resources for improving and strengthening the marriage
- The court divorce process in Utah
- Options for divorce process (mediation, litigation, and collaborative law)
- Resources for divorced persons
- Resolutions for child custody and support issues that don’t require divorce filing
The Education Course
The education course is required for helping divorcing parents understand what children go through during the process and how they can help their children adjust to the significant changes that will happen.
Parents learn the different responses of children at different ages, how they can express their pain and loss.
There are professional recommendations given on the methods to help children cope after the divorce process.
Some topics include the following:
- The grieving stages for children in a divorce
- What parents can expect from children at each age level during and after the divorce process
- How to help children adjust to the situation
- How to properly communicate with children about the divorce
- What to tell your children and what information to leave out
- The effects of stress on children and ways to deal with conflicts that your children are exposed to during the process
- Boosting a child’s self-esteem and encouraging them to express their feelings during and after the divorce
- The need for continued meaningful relationships between children and both parents during and after the process
- Ways on how divorcing parents can agree and share responsibilities for the children
- Financial and legal issues involved in divorce
Experience with Divorce Cases in Utah
Still undecided on hiring a divorce lawyer in Utah to handle your case?
At Godfrey Law, our team of expert lawyers has decades of experience in handling divorce cases in Utah.
We are here to assist you during this most challenging period in your married life.
Being your legal advisor and advocate, we make our clients feel comfortable during the whole process.
Trying to navigate your way through the divorce process on your own can be a daunting task. It can be draining both physically and emotionally.
Our job is to fight for your best interests and defend your rights.
If your ex-spouse has a lawyer, you should not go into court without a lawyer as well. Your case may become complicated as the process drags on, and having a lawyer can help you navigate through the tricky situations like your ex-wife or husband changing their mind about sharing custody.
Godfrey Law Divorce Lawyers in Utah are Ready to Help
- Free Consultation
- Best rates in Utah
- Trusted
- Reliable
- Accurate Advice
- Full-Assistance
- Free Evaluation
- Over three decades of experience
- Strict with Confidentiality
We understand that finances can be a reason why you are hesitant to hire a lawyer. Before you decide to get free legal aid, meet with us first so we can discuss payment options.
We have an advanced technology-driven process management system in place that leads to the best results at lower costs.
Let’s talk! Allow us to help you get through the whole, emotionally charged divorce process.
Give us a call or send us a message on our website.
