Divorce Residency Essentials to Get Divorce in Utah

To file for divorce in Utah, one of the spouses must have been a resident of the state for three months or longer. The petition can be filed in the county that either spouse lives.

Reasons for Divorce in Utah

There are both no-fault and at-fault grounds for divorce in the state of Utah. The no-fault grounds include irreconcilable differences of marriage and living separately without cohabitation (under a judicial decree of separation) for at least three years.

The fault-based grounds include, but are not limited to, conviction of a felony, impotence, willful discretion of a year or longer, drunkenness and adultery.

If there is a child from the marriage, the online divorce will not be granted until both parents attend a parenting education course and present the certificate of completion to the court.

Custody of the Children in Utah

If the court determines that it would be in the best interests of the child, it may choose to award joint legal custody. In this case, both parents must agree to the order of joint legal custody and both parents must be deemed capable of implementing it.

Joint legal custody does not usually mean the children will spend equal time with both parents, but it does give both parents the right to be involved in important decisions regarding the child’s upbringing.

Utah Child Support Guidelines

The standard child support guidelines developed for the state of Utah will apply in almost all do-it-yourself divorce cases, barring exceptional circumstances. Both parents’ gross incomes and child-related expenses are considered when calculating the child support obligations. The payments for child support continue for a child until he or she reaches the age of 18, but they may be extended until the completion of secondary school.

Divorce Mediation

Mediation is available in Utah. If there is a pending divorce, either party may file a motion to request mediation for any or all issues that are contested, such as child custody or visitation. By taking these disputes to a mediator, it may enable the case to proceed as an uncontested divorce.

Filing fees

Standard court filing fees are in addition to the cost of using OnlineDivorceSolutions.com. The filing fees vary from county to county. Please check with your local courthouse for more information regarding the exact amount you will need to pay when filing your divorce papers in Utah.