Trusted bountiful divorce attorneys in Utah

A divorce may be simple or complex, depending upon the issues involved and whether they are contested, as well as the parties' willingness and ability to come to a mutual agreement on disputed matters. Even in the simplest divorce, legal advice and representation is recommended, and the divorce attorneys at Diumenti & Leger can provide whatever level of service is needed to accomplish your divorce efficiently and effectively, with your rights protected at every step and your interests and needs reflected in the final outcome.

A look at the Utah divorce process

The Utah divorce process begins with one spouse filing a petition for divorce or dissolution of marriage with the county court. In order to file for divorce, at least one of the spouses must have been a resident of the state and the particular county in which the divorce is filed for the three preceding months. Although there are many possible grounds for divorce in Utah, including adultery, willful neglect, physical and mental cruelty, and desertion, most divorces are filed as a no-fault divorce, with the grounds for divorce being the presence of irreconcilable differences between the spouses. Fault can still play a role in the divorce process regarding issues such as alimony/spousal support, so it is important to discuss the reasons for divorce with your attorney before filing.

After one spouse files the petition, the other spouse is served with divorce papers and has a limited time within which to file an answer to the petition with the court. At this point the court may enter several temporary orders. These orders are usually meant to preserve the status quo between the parties, so the spouses may be ordered not to sell any property or make any decisions that could affect the issues in the divorce. The court may also enter temporary orders as to child custody or support if necessary, although these issues will dealt with more fully later in the divorce process.

The judge also requires the spouses to make certain disclosures to each other, thus making sure both spouses and their attorneys know the state of the other spouse's financial affairs, such as income, property, business interests, and other assets and debts. If the divorce is uncontested - meaning that the parties can agree on all the issues in the divorce, such as the division of property, child custody and parent time, child support and alimony - then the divorce decree may be issued by the court once the 90-day waiting period required by law has passed.

If any issues in the divorce are contested, the spouses will be required to go to mediation to attempt to resolve their differences. If mediation is unsuccessful or is waived, the parties may proceed to litigate the issues in court. Litigation involves a civil trial, with the judge making the final decision based on the evidence and arguments presented by the parties through their attorneys. It is highly recommended that you seek representation from divorce lawyers in Bountiful who are familiar with the legal process in family law matters, including both mediation and litigation.

This entire process can take as little as 90 days, although a contested divorce with issues to be litigated will almost certainly take longer, simply because it takes time to get a trial date set and properly prepare a case for trial.

Trust Diumenti & Leger with Your Divorce

No two divorces are alike, and the divorce attorneys in the Bountiful law office of Diumenti & Leger take the time to sit down with you and understand the needs in your particular case. Our goal is not to make things harder or more complicated, but to resolve your matter efficiently and effectively according to your needs and goals. For personal attention and assistance from quality lawyers right here in Davis County, contact Diumenti & Leger in Bountiful.