Marriages can fail, and that’s the hard truth. If you have decided to file for divorce in Utah, you have the option of both no-fault and fault-based divorce. In a no-fault divorce, it is enough to state that the couple has irreconcilable differences. This simply means that the marriage has fallen apart and cannot be saved. As for a fault-based divorce, there are several grounds, including incurable insanity, adultery, willful desertion, willful neglect, and conviction of a felony.
Once you have made up your mind, or when you have doubts, your best bet is to contact a Sandy divorce lawyer. An attorney with an understanding of family laws can guide further on the matter. In this post, we are sharing more on the basic steps for filing for divorce in Utah.
- Check the residency requirements. To file for divorce in Utah, either of the spouses must have lived in the county for at least three months, before filing.
- Deciding on the grounds. You must have a legally acceptable reason, also called the ‘grounds’, for filing for divorce. Talk to your attorney to know what may be your best choice, considering your circumstances.
- Filing for divorce. Once you have filed the divorce papers, the copies will be sent to your spouse. The service of process is an important part of the divorce.
Contesting the divorce
If your spouse doesn’t agree to the terms and conditions of the divorce, or has issues with the contents of divorce, they may choose to contest the divorce. If that happens, you may have to go for a number of court appearances to sort out the important matters. However, when your spouse agrees to the terms of the divorce, it would be an uncontested divorce.
Deciding on an out-of-court settlement
It is always wise to have an out-of-court settlement with your spouse, sorting important matters like child support, alimony, and child custody. If you don’t want to deal with all that on your own, get a divorce lawyer to negotiate and work on your behalf. Hiring an attorney is not about just paperwork, but more about having someone with expertise to handle things with your spouse and their lawyer.
Cost of a divorce
This depends on many things, including the fee of your lawyer. However, there are general costs related to filing the petition, Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP) fees, and fees for serving summons, that must be paid.
Talk to an attorney to know the divorce process better.
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