• One of the parties was not yet divorced from another living spouse at the time of the marriage. This may seem like a no brainer but in some countries you can marry multiple partners. So, if you are still married but marry an additional individual in another country that does not prohibit polygamy, your marriage would not be deemed valid under Utah law.
• If the person you married in another country were under the age of 16, your marriage would not be valid under Utah law. Again, it might be lawful for you to marry the person in the particular country in which you married. Nonetheless, Utah does not recognize marriages to minors under the age of 16 under any circumstances.
• If you marry an individual of the same sex in another country, for instance New Zealand recently legalized gay marriage, a Utah court would currently not recognize such a marriage. However, this may be changing very soon as the issue of gay marriage in Utah is currently making its way through the federal courts process and federal judges have recently ruled in favor of gay marriage in Utah.
• If you are related within 3 degrees of the person you married in another country, Utah will not legally recognize your marriage. This obviously means you can’t marry family members, cousins, or anyone closely related to you.

For 99% of people getting married over seas, there is never going to be a problem with enforcing your marital rights, seeking a divorce in Utah, or otherwise feeling confident you have a legally valid marriage under Utah law. For the few that may fall under one of the exceptions stated above, you should consult with a Utah Divorce Lawyer to further investigate your marital sanding. For more information call us anytime.

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What’s interesting however is that some articles are being written suggesting that by playing around with this calculator you can realize that by being unmarried you could save $7,000 – $11,000 under the new healthcare system. Or in the reverse you could be charged $7k-$11k extra for being married. The difference of course being in the amount of taxpayer subsidies you lose by being married and filing jointly.

Whether this incentive to be single that comes from the reform was conscious or not remains to be seen. The other uncertainty is whether or not these articles are simply more political bantering by both sides trying to mischaracterize the program and shed different shades of light on it but its still an interesting issue to consider and may be the straw that broke the camels back for some feuding couples in their decision to get divorced.

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What Does it Mean to Bifurcate Your Divorce?

Because of this long divorce timeline people start getting impatient and want to move on with their lives. While some individuals don’t want to think about marriage ever again, others find new partners quickly and have a desire to get remarried before their divorce is even finalized, but that poses a problem. Being married to more than one individual is bigamy and is illegal in Utah. So to help people that find themselves in this scenario the legal system provides for what is called a bifurcated divorce. A divorce bifurcation allows for a judge to enter a decree of divorce for the parties, legally divorcing them, yet setting aside the issues that they are fighting over to continue to be resolved in further court proceedings. So the divorce is essentially split in two, the property division and the like is set in a case that continues, and the separation of the parties and dissolution of the marriage is resolved and closed.

St. George Divorce Attorney Who can Help with Your Divorce

If you are looking at getting divorced but want to move on with your life and would like to know more about bifurcation then call us today for a free phone consultation.

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General Alimony Principles

When it comes to settling alimony disputes it can be very difficult to predict what the possible outcomes may be. Ultimately, if the parties cannot come to an agreement then the judge will make a decision based on the arguments as to whether or not alimony should be awarded and if so the amount and duration of the award. Some general principles are used however to guide judges in their decision making but these are in no sense hard and fast rules. The first is the judges will normally not award alimony for long than the duration of the marriage. So for example if you were married for 10 years then you’re not likely to get alimony for longer than 10 years. The second is that judges try to balance incomes between the parties and maintain similar standards of living if at all possible.

St. George Divorce Attorney | Resolving your Alimony Concerns

If you are facing divorce and live in St. George or Washington County then call St George Divorce Attorney today. We can help you understand the process and what you should expect from your divorce. Our experienced attorneys can help you protect your interests and understand what your options are.

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Making Mediation Work for You

There are a number of things that parties can do to try and make sure that mediation is successful. Obviously having a good attitude about mediation and an open mind to settlement is going to be beneficial but that’s not always easy in the context of divorce. One of the biggest things that couples can do is make sure that they get an experienced mediator, and although this may cost more money it will most likely save money in the long run. With proper legal counsel and an experienced mediator the parties can have a better idea about what likely outcomes are, where they should make concessions, and where they should stand their ground.

Southern Utah Divorce Attorney & Mediation

At St George Divorce Attorney, all of our attorneys are also certified and experienced mediators so they know how to help clients in whatever capacity they need. We understand the value in settling disputes before going to court and we will strive to help our clients protect what is important to them while encouraging them to make sound legal decisions. Call or email us today to set up a free consultation in our Southern Utah office.

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Temporary Orders in Utah

In Utah a person that is involved in a divorce proceeding can ask for temporary orders from the judge to help provide certain kinds of relief. Temporary orders are in essence the ground rules of how things are going to be while the divorce takes place. Because a contested divorce can take a long time before it is settled it can often be very important to set up some ground rules like who will live in the marital home, temporary alimony or child support payments, and as discussed above a temporary restraining order.

Southern Utah Divorce Attorney

If you live in St. George, Cedar City, or any other part of Southern Utah and are looking for a divorce attorney then call the lawyers at St George Divorce Attorney. We can help provide you with the relief and protection that you need through temporary orders and we can help you resolve your divorce as quickly and soundly as possible. Our attorneys are experienced criminal defenders and we know how to argue your side of the case. Call or email us today to set up a free consultation and get the help you deserve.

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Experienced Legal Help

Although every divorce situation is unique there are a lot of things that appear in almost every case. The attorneys at St George Divorce Attorney have aided hundreds of clients in their divorces and know the common issues and problems that arise, and know how to deal with them. There is too much at stake in a child custody case to not have your interest correctly stated before the court, and with an attorney from St George Divorce Attorney at your side you can rest assured that your interests are being represented properly. The one thing that a lot of people don’t understand in a divorce proceeding is that you are working on an agreement that is going to effect you for years to come, so it is very worth it to make sure it is done right and not just that it gets done.

St. George Family Law Attorney | Custody Disputes

If you are going through a divorce or have already received a divorce decree and want to modify your custody arrangement then call the attorneys at St George Divorce Attorney. We can help you understand the legal process and defend your interests. Contact us today to set up a free consultation.

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Utah’s Alimony Laws

There are a number of different factors that influence a courts decision concerning alimony. One of the common things to know is that courts are not likely to award alimony for a period of time l0nger than the duration of the marriage. Another thing to note is that any argument over money is going to require a lot of evidence showing how much a person makes and what was made during the marriage. With all the complexities of alimony arguments it is well worth the time and money to have an attorney help you in your alimony dispute.

Southern Utah Alimony Attorney | Divorce and Family Law Practice

Whether you are going through a divorce or are unhappy with the alimony award that was placed in your divorce decree, the lawyers at St George Divorce Attorney can help you. Our attorneys are experienced in divorce proceedings and have helped hundreds of family law clients. We will work tirelessly for your interests and make sure that your rights are protected. Call or email us today to set up a free consultation.

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Most people have heard of a prenuptial agreement or “prenup” from popular media. The storyline usually involves engaged couples becoming upset at one another over the issue of one party suggesting that they enter into a prenuptial agreement. Although prenuptial or premarital agreements are usually viewed with scrutiny under the public eye, they do actually serve a very useful purpose in many settings, and are probably more common than most believe. Often marital contracts such as premarital or post-marital contracts are viewed as abstract devices, however when marriage is viewed as a contract between two individuals, then a pre or post-marital agreement is simply an amendment to the normal marital contract.

Reasons for Marital Agreements

There are two main types of marital agreements a prenuptial/premarital agreement or a post-nuptial/post-marital. The only difference between the two agreements is the point in time when they are executed, a premarital agreement of course being before marriage and a post-marital agreement coming afterwards. The most common scenario when a marital agreement is beneficial is when couples are getting married later in life, either for the first time or for subsequent marriages. In these cases the parties most likely have more assets and may even have children that they eventually want to leave their assets to. By entering into a marital agreement the parties can dictate how their assets will be handled upon, death, separation, or divorce. Furthermore, parties can dictate how divorce proceedings will be handled if they take place as well as stipulating that alimony will not be awarded.

Family Law Attorney | Southern Utah

Although marital agreements may not be the most romantic thing engaged couples can do they may at times be the smartest. If you are considering a pre or post-marital agreement then contact the lawyers at St George Divorce Attorney. We can help you understand the process and help clear up the misconceptions so you can make an educated decision. Call or email us today to set up a free consultation.

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Utah Divorce Modification Proceedings

The divorce modification process is very similar to the original divorce proceedings. Courts encourage parties to resolve issues outside of court, like in divorce, but if no agreement is made then the court gets involved. Also the court uses the same standards and rules as before and in reality the only difference should be the substantial change in circumstances mentioned above. The argument for substantial changes can be in relation to your own circumstances, your ex spouse’s, or even your children’s. As is the case in the original divorce proceedings any custody issue will be resolved by considering what is in the best interest of the child.

St. George Divorce Attorney

If you are divorced and find that the terms of your divorce decree no longer apply to your situation, then call the lawyers at St George Divorce Attorney, you may be able to get your decree modified to better fit your circumstances. With the help of an experienced family law attorney you will have a better chance of convincing the court that the changes you want are in the best interest of the kids, and the right thing for the court to do. Call or email us today to set up a free consultation.

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