Utah Family Law
Protect your kids, your home, and your future — with a clear plan.
Utah divorce and custody outcomes are decided by parenting-time schedules, income figures, and asset characterization — not by who is angrier. Nelson Jones Legal builds your case around those levers, negotiates hard where settlement serves you, and litigates when it doesn't. You'll know your realistic range before you spend a dollar chasing an unrealistic one.
Your first meeting produces a written roadmap: the parenting schedule we'll pursue, the support numbers under Utah's guidelines, how the marital estate divides, and the likely timeline and cost. Emergency issues — protective orders, denied parent-time, hidden accounts, a spouse draining a joint account — get filed immediately, not queued.
Child-first custody strategy
Parenting plans built on Utah's statutory factors and the schedule your family can actually live with.
Numbers you can trust
Support and alimony modeled under the guidelines before you negotiate, so no offer surprises you.
Full asset picture
Retirement, business interests, equity, and separate-property tracing accounted for — not guessed at.
Discreet and responsive
Private consultations, plain-English updates, and an attorney who returns calls.
Client Results
What clients say about our family law team
“I came in terrified I'd lose time with my daughter. They built a parenting plan the judge adopted almost word for word.”
“My divorce involved a business and a pension. Nothing got missed, and I finally understood what I was signing.”
“Calm, direct, and honest about what was worth fighting over. That saved me thousands.”
Client experiences vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Read more client testimonials.
Answers
Family Law questions, answered
How long does a Utah divorce take?
Utah requires a 30-day waiting period after filing, and an uncontested case can finish in roughly 60 to 90 days. Contested custody or complex assets typically run six months to a year, depending on discovery and the court's calendar.
How is custody decided in Utah?
Courts apply best-interest factors: each parent's past caretaking, stability, the child's bond with each parent, willingness to support the other relationship, and the child's needs. Joint legal custody is common; parent-time schedules vary widely, and that's where cases are won.
Do I have to go to court?
Most Utah family cases resolve through mediation, which is required before trial in contested matters. We prepare you for mediation so a settlement is one you chose, not one you were worn down into.
Can a custody or support order be changed later?
Yes. A substantial and material change in circumstances — relocation, a significant income shift, or a safety concern — can support a modification petition.
What does a family law case cost?
Family matters are billed hourly against a retainer. We give you a written scope and estimate at the outset and flag anything that would move the number before it does.
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Locally Owned. Utah Strong.
Family Law representation for clients across Utah.
Nelson Jones Legal represents Utahns in family law from the Wasatch Front to Washington County. Our roots are here, our team lives here, and our courtrooms are the same ones you drive past on your way to work. When you hire us, you hire neighbors who know the local judges, insurance adjusters, and opposing counsel — and who treat your case with the seriousness it deserves.
We proudly serve clients across West Jordan, Salt Lake City, St. George, Sandy, Draper, Riverton, Herriman, Ogden, Provo, Layton, Davis County, Utah County, and Washington County. Whether you live in a small Davis County neighborhood or run a business along the St. George corridor, our attorneys travel to you when it matters and stand beside you in every courtroom we enter.