Divorce can be emotionally taxing, especially when the process is complicated. Contested divorces can cause issues for one or both spouses and can cause additional time to be spent going through court-related processes to resolve the issue of the contest. While the obvious solution is to avoid a contested divorce if you can, this may not be possible for certain relationships and cases. Your lawyer is ready to be a resource for you as you navigate this difficult time and can help to ensure that your interests are protected in the case of contested divorce in Utah.
What are the reasons why a divorce can be contested?
There are many different reasons why you or your spouse may choose to contest a divorce. Below are just a few reasons why a contested divorce may be the right choice for you:
- Alimony disagreement. If the agreed-upon amount of alimony is not a mutual decision, or will not suit your needs, you may take the opportunity to contest the divorce. It is important to make the contest known to the court before the divorce decree is finalized, or else revisiting the alimony settlement can be a more lengthy process later.
- Agreement fraud. If during the original divorce decree process, your spouse somehow concealed assets from you in an attempt to lessen spousal support payments, that may be considered a form of fraud. You would be able to contest the divorce on these grounds alone.
- Concern for your children in light of current divorce agreements. If your custody plan may not be in the best interest of your child(ren), you may want to consider contesting your divorce.
What is the process for contesting a divorce?
The process of contesting a divorce decree in Utah is fairly simple. The first step that you’ll want to take is to connect with a skilled attorney who can assess your situation and help you to take the next correct step. They will be the ones to assist you in preparing your request and formally filing it with the court. They will be able to reference prior Utah state case law, and determine how it best applies to your specific case.
After the filing is complete, your spouse will be given the opportunity to respond. There may be times when your spouse may ignore the request completely, which will enable you to be eligible for a divorce by default. Your attorney can work with you to determine if your spouse has surpassed the allotted time for a rebut and response, otherwise known as a counter-complaint.
After that, your attorney will help you to align any other necessary documentation for your case. It’s important to note that contested divorces can take years to get through, which is why they are not always an ideal solution to marital disagreements or custody changes. It is extremely costly to go through an extended contested divorce process and can put the entire family through additional undue turmoil.
Can you opt for settlements in contested divorce?
As we’ve mentioned before, the process for contested divorce is emotionally grueling and financially draining. If, after months of attempt and process, you decide that you wish to opt out and settle for a simpler solution, you may choose to pursue a settlement in lieu of additional divorce proceedings. A settlement would require you to speak with your spouse and work out an amicable and mutually beneficial agreement. Normally, the process of working out the agreement is left to the spouses and is kept out of the court until the decision is ready to be finalized.
A divorce attorney is especially important to reference if you are choosing to move forward with a potential settlement. It can be confusing to determine the best next step for you in this case, especially when it comes to asset division and custody agreements, or any amount of spousal support that you may be eligible for. While you can forgo an attorney and do the process yourself, you can give yourself additional peace of mind and assistance through the process by relying on the help of a skilled divorce attorney in Utah.
Choosing to do a settlement may not keep you entirely out of the Utah family court system. In order for anything to be legally binding, it must be reviewed and approved by the court. Your presiding judge will weigh in to determine what the most equitable resolution is for everyone involved, and will work to bring the case to true resolution in an effort to prevent further disruption to your process. Because of this, you should be prepared for at least one legal hearing to finalize your agreement.
Ascent Law can help you with contested divorce in Utah
If you’re facing a possible contested divorce, it’s important to be prepared. Ascent Law is here to help and has successfully navigated hundreds of prior cases of contested divorce to success in the state of Utah. For more information, please visit our website. We look forward to assisting you!
Salt Lake City
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Salt Lake City, Utah
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| City of Salt Lake City[1] | |
Clockwise from top: The skyline in July 2011, Utah State Capitol, TRAX, Union Pacific Depot, the Block U, the City-County Building, and the Salt Lake Temple
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| Nickname:
“The Crossroads of the West”
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Interactive map of Salt Lake City
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| Coordinates: 40°45′39″N 111°53′28″WCoordinates: 40°45′39″N 111°53′28″W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Salt Lake |
| Platted | 1857[2] |
| Named for | Great Salt Lake |
| Government
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| • Type | Strong Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Erin Mendenhall (D) |
| Area | |
| • City | 110.81 sq mi (286.99 km2) |
| • Land | 110.34 sq mi (285.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.47 sq mi (1.22 km2) |
| Elevation
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4,327 ft (1,288 m) |
| Population | |
| • City | 199,723 |
| • Rank | 122nd in the United States 1st in Utah |
| • Density | 1,797.52/sq mi (701.84/km2) |
| • Urban
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1,021,243 (US: 42nd) |
| • Metro
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1,257,936 (US: 47th) |
| • CSA
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2,606,548 (US: 22nd) |
| Demonym | Salt Laker[5] |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area codes | 801, 385 |
| FIPS code | 49-67000[7] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1454997[8] |
| Major airport | Salt Lake City International Airport |
| Website | Salt Lake City Government |
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Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, as well as the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 199,723 in 2020,[10] the city is the core of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which had a population of 1,257,936 at the 2020 census. Salt Lake City is further situated within a larger metropolis known as the Salt Lake City–Ogden–Provo Combined Statistical Area, a corridor of contiguous urban and suburban development stretched along a 120-mile (190 km) segment of the Wasatch Front, comprising a population of 2,606,548 (as of 2018 estimates),[11] making it the 22nd largest in the nation. It is also the central core of the larger of only two major urban areas located within the Great Basin (the other being Reno, Nevada).
Salt Lake City was founded July 24, 1847, by early pioneer settlers, led by Brigham Young, who were seeking to escape persecution they had experienced while living farther east. The Mormon pioneers, as they would come to be known, entered a semi-arid valley and immediately began planning and building an extensive irrigation network which could feed the population and foster future growth. Salt Lake City’s street grid system is based on a standard compass grid plan, with the southeast corner of Temple Square (the area containing the Salt Lake Temple in downtown Salt Lake City) serving as the origin of the Salt Lake meridian. Owing to its proximity to the Great Salt Lake, the city was originally named Great Salt Lake City. In 1868, the word “Great” was dropped from the city’s name.[12]
Immigration of international members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, mining booms, and the construction of the first transcontinental railroad initially brought economic growth, and the city was nicknamed “The Crossroads of the West”. It was traversed by the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway, in 1913. Two major cross-country freeways, I-15 and I-80, now intersect in the city. The city also has a belt route, I-215.
Salt Lake City has developed a strong tourist industry based primarily on skiing and outdoor recreation. It hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics. It is known for its politically progressive and diverse culture, which stands at contrast with the rest of the state’s conservative leanings.[13] It is home to a significant LGBT community and hosts the annual Utah Pride Festival.[14] It is the industrial banking center of the United States.[15] Salt Lake City and the surrounding area are also the location of several institutions of higher education including the state’s flagship research school, the University of Utah. Sustained drought in Utah has more recently strained Salt Lake City’s water security and caused the Great Salt Lake level drop to record low levels,[16][17] and impacting the state’s economy, of which the Wasatch Front area anchored by Salt Lake City constitutes 80%.[18]
About Salt Lake City, Utah
Neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, Utah
Poplar Grove, The Avenues, Ballpark, Lower Avenues, Downtown, Woodbury, Central City, Neighborhood House, Salt Lake City Community Development, Rio Grande, The Neighborhood Hive, Neighborhood Services, University Neighborhood Partners, Salt Lake City, Neighborhood Auto Service, Sunnyside Park, Building at Rear, 537 West 200 South, Washington Square Park, Area 51, Brigham Young Historic Park
Things To Do in Salt Lake City, Utah
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Reviews for Ascent Law LLC Salt Lake City, Utah
John Logan
We've gotten divorce and child custody work from Ascent Law since the beginning because of my ex. We love this divorce firm! Staff is gentle, friendly and skilled. Tanya knows her stuff. Nicole is good and Ryan is fun. Really, all the staff here are careful, kind and flexible. They always answer all my questions, explain what they're doing and provide great legal services. I personally think they are the best for divorce in Utah.
Jacqueline Hunting
I have had an excellent experience with Ascent Law, Michael Reed is an absolutely incredible attorney. He is 100% honest and straight forward through the entire legal process of things, he also has a wonderful approach to helping better understand certain agreements, rights, and legal standing of matters, to where it was easy to know whats going on the entire process. I appreciate the competency, genuine effort put forth, and assistance I received from Ascent and attorney Michael Reed, and I will be calling these guys if ever I have the need again for their legal assistance! 5star review Wonderful attorneys!
Anthony Ziegler
This review is well deserved for Ryan and Josh. New clients should know they are worth the 5 star rating we give them. We needed 2 sessions from them because of the complexity of the matter, but they are both very passionate about his helping others in need. My sister needed bankruptcy and I needed divorce. Sometimes they go hand in hand but a large shout out to this team - also Nicole is one of the sweetest people you ever did meet - she offered me warm cookies!
Thomas Parkin
Mike Anderson and his colleagues & staff are knowledgeable, attentive and caring. In a difficult and complex case that eventually went to trial, Mike was the voice of reason and the confidence I needed. His courtroom abilities are amazing and I felt his defense of me was incredible. His quick thinking and expertise allowed for a positive result when I felt the World was crumbling. His compassion, after the case, has helped me return to a good life. I trust Mike and his staff. They are friendly and very good at what they do.
Yeran Merry
I worked with Attorney Alex and Paralegal Ami in my divorce case. I got to know the team very well over the course of two years. I cannot think of a better team to have worked with. Ami and Alex are not only exceptional law professions who are very knowledgeable and thorough, they are also the best human beings who empathize with the emotions I was experiencing. Alex was conscious of my budget and worked efficiently to try to reduce unnecessary legal expenses. My case also involved some dealings with a foreign country that Alex and his team had previously dealt with. They did an amazing job addressing cultural barriers in a very respectful manner and did not fall short in quality of work or in standards when dealing with some of these new challenges. Ami deserves a medal for being extremely professional, calming, and compassionate when it is needed most. When you need family law attorneys, call this firm. I now feel I can move forward with grace and dignity.
