Recent Blog Posts
Looking for help with child support in Utah?
Looking for help with child support in Utah? Smoak Law, P.C. is here to assist parents regarding all aspects of child support modifications, enforcement and establishment. Specializing in family law for over a decade, our experienced attorneys understand the complexity of custody, visitation and support issues that arise after separation or divorce. We can… Read More »
A life turned upside down
A client’s perspective on living through what parallels a war “The world is full of good people and good food. We all want to live a life without drama, some security and comfort. Raise our children and live in harmony. What if that life of yours is turned upside down and you find yourself… Read More »
How much will my divorce cost?
How much will my divorce, paternity, modification, civil suit cost? I am asked this question by every prospective client to whom I talk. It is a question I cannot answer. If you have a flat fee type of case (criminal defense for example), a lawyer tells you the flat fee. If you have a… Read More »
How do I find a lawyer?
I have spent almost 25 years helping people answer this question. Even though I started my practice at a time of no internet and no social media, the answer is fundamentally the same. At the end of the day, whether you are talking to a lawyer in a large firm, or a sole practitioner,… Read More »
Your Ex is not your child’s Ex
DK Simoneau is famous for this quote, and her book, “We’re Having a Tuesday”, published in 2006. If I could make every parent going through a divorce sit down and read this book together, I would. The book is written from a child’s perspective of going back and forth between two homes, missing her… Read More »
Never Give Up
Thomas Edison is famous for saying a lot of things, but my personal favorite is this: “I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work” There are a lot of reasons this can make sense to a lawyer, and their client. The more years I practice as a family law… Read More »
Anger
Anger. We all feel it. After all, we are only human. But, there is no place for it in the legal system so far as I can tell. It seems best to write your angry email, wait 24-48 hours and hit delete. Or wait and send a note that is to the point and… Read More »
Facing Challenges
Taking any legal path is challenging, for you and your divorce lawyer. This is especially true when you face a turn not anticipated. There are a few straight forward answers. Your case(s), be it divorce, a civil or criminal matter (or all three at the same time), is ever-changing. How do you handle this?… Read More »
Perspective is Survival
The more years I practice, the more I see. Oftentimes, I think I know every angle. Then a colleague, client or Judge points something out and the entire perspective changes. Good, bad, or indifferent, I try to learn from it. So, today some food for thought~ “Sometimes what looks like falling apart is actually… Read More »
Dads – You are as important as mothers in the eyes of the law in Utah
Happy Father’s Day. Dads, in Utah, a 50/50 custody arrangement is recognized by law as best for children if possible. Don’t be fooled by lawyers claiming to uphold “father’s rights” as if you need that. You don’t. You just need a good family lawyer. “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong… Read More »