Law Office of David Pedrazas, PLLC

We understand how difficult and stressful it can be when you are going through a divorce. It’s important to hire a compassionate and skilled divorce attorney with years of successful experience in divorce to guide you through the process, saving you both time and money. Attorney David Pedrazas is a SLC, Utah divorce attorney that has been in practice for over 20 years and knows what needs to be done to make sure you get the best representation possible. He has the resources and the knowledge to provide the most aggressive and responsible representation possible. Whether you are involved in a contested or uncontested divorce, contact our firm now at 801-263-7078 for a free case evaluation to discuss your concerns and allow us to begin working on a strategy for you!

A divorce in Salt Lake City will not automatically end with an order concerning the payment of alimony. Either spouse may request to receive spousal support, and there is no presumption that alimony will be awarded to the wife or the husband. Contact us at the Law Office of David Pedrazas for a free case evaluation to learn more about how we can help you understand Utah alimony laws and to take the first steps in your alimony case.

If you’re looking for more information about asset division in your divorce case, or for guidance with legal matters, the Law Office of David Pedrazas can help. We are committed to helping you get the help you need with your divorce. As you may already know, asset division is a key component of helping to make divorce proceedings fair and good for both parties involved.

State law makes it possible to request a modification to the terms of alimony, provided that the significant change to your circumstances was not foreseeable at the time of the divorce. Either party may file the petition to modify — the party who is paying alimony can request to have the payment amount reduced, or the recipient of spousal support may petition for an increase in the amount. Contact us at the Law Office of David Pedrazas for a free case evaluation and to get a Salt Lake City divorce attorney start working on a strategy for your modifications.

When high net worth individuals divorce, their cases are often far more complicated than those involving people of average means and resources. Such high-stakes cases involve complex financial and business issues, especially if the spouses have worked together in a professional capacity such as in building and running a business. Success in a high net worth divorce depends in large measure on having skilled legal representation to guide you through the process, help you resolve difficult questions of asset division and the payment of alimony, and fight aggressively for you in court if necessary. You can find the knowledgeable and dedicated Salt Lake City divorce lawyer you need by coming to the Law Office of David Pedrazas.

As of June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry in all 50 US states. Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy stated in the majority opinion: “The Court, in this decision, holds same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry in all States.”

Divorce is a difficult process for anyone. When you add in the complications of the possibility of deployment, division of benefits and other issues that are part of divorce when one or both spouses are members of the military, you need to secure the representation of an attorney who has helped people just like you before. Family law attorney David Pedrazas has been helping people face the challenges that are present when military service is complicating the divorce equation. During his more than 20 years of service he has helped many people through difficult situations. In one instance, he went through mediation via Skype with a client who was in a bunker in Iraq.

Whenever possible, the family law courts in Salt Lake City prefer to see couples negotiate out-of-court settlements for divorce, an approach which is referred to as an uncontested divorce. This approach is faster, less stressful and usually more affordable for everyone involved, and it also keeps cases off a crowded court docket. It is not, however, always an option. The American Bar Association estimates that approximately 5 percent of divorces are contested in court. If you and your spouse simply cannot agree on matters such as child custody, alimony, and asset division, you need a proven Salt Lake City divorce lawyer who can stand by you throughout the process and fight to defend your personal interests.

When the parties to a divorce are unable to come to agreements on issues such as child custody, asset division and alimony, the case is referred to as a contested divorce. A contested divorce will nearly always go to trial, and the parties are required to make a compelling case to persuade the judge to rule in their favor. The resulting court orders have the force of law for the spouses, and they are fully required to abide by them or face penalties that can lead up to time in jail. In an uncontested divorce, on the other hand, the spouses work together to achieve a settlement agreement out of court, and they only bring the agreement to court for the final approval of the family law judge.

In the state of Utah, all fathers are granted certain privileges. While this typically wouldn’t be an issue if you and the mother of your child are married — since all husbands are presumed to be the father of any children who are given birth to by their wives — it may be necessary to invoke these rights through an establishment of paternity if you and the mother of your child are unmarried. Similarly, you may need to fight diligently for custody or visitation rights if you have decided to undergo a divorce. While the courts have been advised that all fathers should be given the same considerations as mothers when it comes to determining a parenting plan, you should not assume that this alone will help you to obtain the custody arrangement that you are hoping for. Rather, it is highly recommended that you enlist the assistance of a Salt Lake City divorce attorney who will work tirelessly to protect your rights.

As you may know, the court system has historically favored mothers when it comes to awarding custody. It wasn’t until the late 1960s that the modern fathers’ rights movement emerged in the United States, therefore prompting the courts to re-evaluate the obvious gender biases that so frequently influenced divorce. Now, the law mandates that child custody be determined on an even playing field — as long as both parents are fit to raise the child. This means that a judge will usually favor a joint custody arrangement in which the mother and father split their custodial responsibilities 50-50, or as close to it as possible. It is important to understand that these changes in the law will not always facilitate an equitable parenting plan, however, as you will still need to show the court that you are a good parent if you hope to win a contentious custody battle. For this reason, you should not hesitate to retain the help of a Salt Lake City divorce lawyer from the Law Office of David Pedrazas, PLLC.

An annulment means legally that a marriage never happened, as opposed to a divorce which is the termination of a marriage. In Utah, the legal grounds for annulment are different from the grounds for divorce. You may also be able to file for an annulment in circumstances where there was fraud, misrepresentation, or refusal to consummate the marriage. The Law Office of David Pedrazas can help you if you are seeking an annulment or help in other family law matters. We will stand by you every step of the way to get the results you deserve and work for a fast and smooth proceeding so you can start a new chapter in your life. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.

More and more grandparents are being asked to play a more active role in the life of their grandchildren than they may have been able to foresee. Many grandparents find themselves filling the role of parents to their grandchildren. Many reasons account for this, including: Difficult work schedules Exorbitant day care costs Drug or alcohol abuse No matter what the reason, many grandparents are finding themselves in more involved roles in their grandchildren’s lives. They may also find themselves arbitrarily removed from those roles.

Protective orders can have a huge impact on domestic relations. They are granted when there has been domestic violence or abuse or the threat of either between spouses or a cohabitating couple. Protective orders grant a number of specific conditions such as: The subject of the order may not be able to return to the shared home The subject of the order may not have any contact with the petitioning party The petitioning party may be granted a temporary order regarding child custody and visitation or child support The petitioning party may be granted control of the shared home Other conditions such as abstaining from alcohol or drugs or being barred from possessing firearms may also be put in place. Any violation of the terms of a protective order can be the basis for criminal charges.

Utah family law attorney David Pedrazas can help with needs such as adoption, divorce, child custody, and more legal family needs. Whether you and your spouse are willing to negotiate a fair settlement together out of court or you are preparing to fight the case with your spouse in court, at the Law Office of David Pedrazas we are prepared to stand by you as the case progresses, advising you of your legal options and advocating aggressively to protect your personal interests. Our goal is to help you experience the smoothest and fastest possible divorce while working carefully to ensure that every aspect of the situation is fully addressed and that you are able to walk away from the situation in the best possible position to start a new chapter in your life. Contact us for a free case evaluation to discuss your situation and take the first steps in your case.

Adopting a child is a wonderful journey that comes with some challenges. The process is made to ensure that the child is placed in a caring, loving and stable home environment. In the state of Utah, there are certain rules and regulations that must be followed in order to complete the adoption process. David Pedrazas and his team of professionals have practiced family law for over 20 years. David has been a part of over 1000 cases and has a track record of success. Contact our skilled Utah adoption attorney for a free 30-minute consultation.

Paternity means far more than being the biological father of a child. Fathers have a special bond with their children, and that connection must be protected. In the legal sense of the word, paternity concerns a father’s legal rights. David Pedrazas is a Salt Lake City paternity attorney who helps Utah fathers through every aspect of their legal actions pertaining to paternity. SLC, Utah Attorney David Pedrazas has years of experience helping families in Utah. Don’t go through the legal process alone, get the quality representation you deserve from a compassionate Salt Lake City, attorney. Let us help you protect your rights as a father, give us a call at 801-263-7078 for a free case evaluation.

For those with substantial assets or who are entering a second marriage and are interested in protecting a particular asset or piece of property for children from a previous marriage, a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can be of great benefit. If you are considering a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, you owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can. Attorney David Pedrazas is happy to help his clients get a better understanding of the benefits prenuptial and postnuptial agreements offer. If you are considering a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, you owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can. Attorney David Pedrazas is happy to help his clients get a better understanding of the benefits prenuptial and postnuptial agreements offer.

As the fight for LGBT rights continues to make great strides in the United States, the family law attorneys at The Law Office of David Pedrazas, PLLC takes pride in offering our LGBT clients the best, and most educated services in accordance with Utah law. David Pedrazas is a longtime advocate for the LGBT community and has assisted same-sex couples in numerous family law cases revolving around same-sex couple adoption as well as parenting agreements. At the Law Office of David Pedrazas, PLLC, we look forward to assisting LGBT and same-sex couples with their family law matters. Contact our family law attorneys for private, professional legal consultation in the state of Utah.

When a divorcing couple cannot agree on the terms of their divorce in respect to issues such as child custody and child support, asset division and alimony, the court will not agree to hear their contested divorce until they have first attended at least one session of mediation. This is an attempt to relieve the caseload in the crowded family law courts, as well as to help the litigants avoid the costs, time and stress of a full trial. If you have been ordered to pursue alternative dispute resolution as a precursor to divorce, you can come to The Law Office of David Pedrazas for help from a Salt Lake City divorce lawyer with 20 years of experience.

Mediation offers an effective way for spouses to finalize their divorce-related decisions, saving time, money and stress. Working with a mediator – a specially trained, neutral third party that is often a family law attorney – couples get the assistance and guidance they need to make the hard decisions. Most importantly, the couples are the ones with the final say, with the mediator acting as a guide through the process.

More and more people are choosing to live together in a relationship as opposed to marrying. This type of domestic situation offers many advantages that people are looking for. But, such types of domestic situations do not offer the same type of stability and predictability that marriage offers. Marriage offers people a variety of rights and responsibilities that can be emulated by entering into a cohabitation agreement. Cohabitation agreements allow couples to spell out, in explicit terms, various aspects of their domestic situation should it end. In many ways, a cohabitation agreement serves essentially the same purposes as a prenuptial agreement, except that it is designed for unmarried couples.

Both parents need to take the financial responsibility to ensure their children can be raised with their needs met and the resources they will need to succeed. The Law Office of David Pedrazas in Salt Lake City, Utah can help you navigate the child support system and help make sure your children receive the support they need while ensuring you are making fully informed choices about your case. Whether you are planning to receive child support payments or if you will likely be ordered to pay, contact us at the Law Office of David Pedrazas. Having an experienced Utah child support attorney on your side can make an enormous difference in determining whether you receive a court order that is fair and that allows you to move on from your divorce in a position of financial stability.

Once custody is assigned to a parent, there is normally an agreement for the other guardian to pay child support to the primary caretaker. This money is to be used for any expenses that may arise during the course of caring for the child. And while the payer may try to do so with the best intentions, unforeseen incidents can cause payments to fall by the wayside. Here’s how back child support works in Utah:

Child support enforcement can be a crucial aspect of a custodial parent’s household finances. When the parent who is responsible for child support fails to pay the full amount he or she owes every month, it can begin to erode the financial stability of the child’s household. Aspects of the child’s life such as education, health care, and extracurricular activities may be impacted by the loss of expected child support payments. There are a number of ways in which a parent can pursue the full child support payments that he or she should be receiving, including: Seeking a contempt order against the other parent Seeking a judgment for arrears

A growing number of parents are choosing to forego marriage when they start a family. For those parents, a separation can be the beginning of a process where many questions that would normally be answered in a divorce are answered, including: Child support Child custody Parenting time/visitation In addition to these issues, paternity may need to be settled as well if the father’s name is not on the birth certificate or there has not been a genetic test yet. All of these issues can be rolled into a paternity or parentage action where child custody and visitation are established along with paternity and the determination of appropriate child support levels.

Although an appropriate amount of child support will be determined by the courts, that does not make it permanent. Depending on the circumstances, you could have your current child support order modified. If either parent’s income is adjusted or lowered, he or she may need the order to be changed in order to meet financial obligations. A child’s cost of living may also change, creating a need for adjusted child support. Once a child support agreement or order is given by the courts, the amount payable may be raised or lowered under different circumstances. Changes in the earning ability of the parent or the financial needs of the child could be adequate to warrant a modification. The prevailing costs of living may also create a need to adjust child support. This guide seeks to answer various questions about child support modification and the various reasons for the modification.

No matter where you are located or what the circumstances may be, child custody cases are some of the most delicate cases in existence. This is largely due to the fact that children are innocent parties and yet, are ultimately the ones who are most affected by the ruling or judgment being decreed by the court. Fortunately, if you live in the SLC Utah area, child custody attorney David Pedrazas is a seasoned professional who can help get your concerns heard and lead the way to an amicable resolution to the situation.

Visitation is referred to by the Utah family law courts as Utah parent time, a term that refers to any time that the custodial or noncustodial parent spends with the children. If you and your spouse are involved in an uncontested divorce, the two of you can work out a schedule for parenting time that works best for the both of you and will accommodate the children’s schedules. In the event that an out-of-court agreement is not possible, the judge will apply the guidelines provided for in the minimum parenting time schedules.

If you have gone through a divorce or are in the process of adopting a child in Utah, it’s important to establish the termination of parental rights for absent or unfit parents. Failure to do so can result in a costly legal battle and may place your children in danger. The Law Offices of David Pedrazas serves families in the greater Salt Lake City area and provides comprehensive legal services, including the process to petition to terminate parental rights and other custody issues. Get a free case evaluation and answers to your questions on voluntary termination of parental rights and involuntary termination of parental rights by contacting us today.

If you are looking to set up guardianship to protect a family member or loved one, you have come to the right place. At The Law Office of David Pedrazas, PLLC, we specialize in guardianship in Utah. To establish a conservatorship or guardianship in Utah, a petition has to be filed with the court. Additionally, the notice must be given to all interested persons, which might include the children and/or spouse of the ward. We have helped many people who have needed help with a guardianship — and we can help you too. Give us a call at 801-263-7078 for a free case evaluation today.

One of the nightmare situations for any parent who shares custody of his or her child is realizing that his or her child is at risk with the other parent. Various factors may be putting your child at risk with the other parent, including: Physical abuse Sexual abuse Alcohol abuse/addiction Drug abuse/addiction

In Utah, courts decide child custody and parent plan matters in ways that are in the “best interest” of the child. That usually means solutions that enable both parents to share in parenting duties and enjoy quality time with the child. Though a 50-50 shared physical custody arrangement is possible, in most cases the child will live primarily with one parent during the week, with the other parent enjoying time with the child every other weekend. Many different child custody and parent plan arrangements are possible, however, depending on the needs of the child and what is in his or her best interest.

Going through a divorce is almost always an extremely emotional and stressful process. When a disagreement over the custody of a child enters into the equation, the distress and conflict that arises can be life-shattering. Parties in a divorce must enter into a trial situation when they cannot agree on a shared custody arrangement and must be forced to obey a schedule decided on by a judge. When this happens, it is likely that the two parents will never reach an amicable agreement. This is not in the best interests of the child as the animosity that develops over the course of years is certain to affect them adversely.

Child custody issues can be especially difficult for military couples. Child custody always has the potential to be highly contentious. Parents often have very strong opinions about how their child will be raised and no parent wants to voluntarily submit to any action that he or she feels may diminish his or her relationship with his or her child. Military service adds complicating factors to the child custody equation. The primary issue being deployment. Deployment overseas makes serving as the custodial parent, or even simply complying with a parenting time/visitation schedule, impossible.