Utah Family Law Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Utah family law attorneys who can navigate Utah’s no-fault divorce framework.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with an Utah attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Utah family law case review

A Utah attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Utah family law case

When you submit a Utah family law matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A family law matter needs someone who handles family law work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Utah law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Utah who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a family law claim in Utah

Day 0
You decide to act.
Separation, custody, support or a modification. Gather financials, the children’s schedules and any agreements or orders that already exist.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Utah family law attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Weeks 1–4
Filing and disclosures.
The petition is filed and both sides exchange financial disclosures. Temporary orders for custody or support can be requested early in Utah.
Months 1–6
Negotiation or mediation.
Most cases settle here — parenting plans, division of property, support. Your attorney negotiates from the disclosures, not from guesses.
If it doesn’t settle
Hearing or trial.
Contested issues go before a judge. Preparation matters more than argument; your attorney builds the file for it from day one.
Resolution
Final order.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Residency Requirement: 90 days
90 days in Utah (Utah Code § 30-3-1); 30-day waiting period from filing
Property Division System: Equitable distribution
Equitable distribution (Utah Code § 30-3-5)
Custody Standard: Best interests
Best interests with statutory factors (Utah Code § 30-3-10); joint legal/physical custody presumption (Utah Code § 30-3-10.2)
Child Support Guidelines: Income Shares
Income Shares model — Utah Code § 78B-12-201 et seq.
Spousal Support Framework: Alimony
Alimony under Utah Code § 30-3-5(8) — court discretion across statutory factors; duration limited to length of marriage
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Utah has 9 grounds for divorce under Utah Code § 30-3-1 including irreconcilable differences (no-fault) and 3-year separation. Residency is 90 days in Utah before filing (Utah Code § 30-3-1(2)). Utah imposes a 30-day waiting period from filing before the decree, plus mandatory parenting classes when minor children are involved (Utah Code § 30-3-11.3). Utah is an equitable distribution state under Utah Code § 30-3-5. Custody is decided under best-interests factors at Utah Code § 30-3-10. Utah uses Income Shares under the Utah Child Support Guidelines (Utah Code § 78B-12-201 et seq.).

Exhibit B

When to call a family law attorney in Utah

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Family Law cases we take in Utah

Which one is closest to yours?

Uncontested divorce

When both spouses agree, Utah allows finalization at the 30-day waiting period via stipulation and decree.

Sound like yours? A Utah attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

Start my free review

Exhibit D

How much do Utah family law attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Utah · Family Law

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Family Law matters in Utah are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Family law cases in Utah are not handled on contingency. Utah Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(d)(1) — patterned on ABA Model Rule 1.5(d) — prohibits contingent fees in domestic relations matters where the fee is contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support, or property settlement. Utah family law attorneys charge hourly (billed against a retainer) or a flat fee for uncontested matters. Courts may award fees under Utah Code § 30-3-3.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Utah family law compensation can include

A Utah family law recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Property Division

Equitable distribution under Utah Code § 30-3-5. Separate property generally exempt unless commingled.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Utah family law questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Utah attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

At minimum, 30 days from filing — Utah’s waiting period under Utah Code § 30-3-18. Uncontested divorces typically finalize at or shortly after 30 days. Contested cases generally take 6–12 months. Parenting class completion is required for cases with minor children.

Yes. Irreconcilable differences is a no-fault ground under Utah Code § 30-3-1. Utah also retains fault grounds: impotency, adultery, willful desertion for more than 1 year, willful neglect, habitual drunkenness, conviction of a felony, cruel treatment, insanity, and 3-year separation.

No pre-filing separation is required for irreconcilable differences. The 3-year-separation ground requires 3 years of living apart. The 30-day waiting period from filing is the only mandatory wait.

Utah is an equitable distribution state. Under Utah Code § 30-3-5, the court divides marital property equitably (not necessarily equally). Separate property — premarital, gifts, inheritance — generally remains with the owner unless commingled or used for marital purposes.

Utah applies a best-interests standard under Utah Code § 30-3-10. Utah has a presumption that joint legal custody is in the best interests of the child under Utah Code § 30-3-10.2, and a 2023 amendment created an equal parenting time preference for fit parents in many circumstances.

Utah uses Income Shares under Utah Code § 78B-12-201 et seq. (Utah Child Support Guidelines). Both parents’ gross incomes are applied to the schedule with adjustments for parenting time (110+ overnights triggers a different formula), healthcare, and childcare.

Yes. Custody can be modified on a material and substantial change in circumstances. Child support requires a 10% deviation. Alimony modification is limited — Utah follows the Lehnberg rule that alimony cannot exceed the recipient’s need at the time of divorce. Property division is final.