If your marriage is ending, your co-parent just kept the kids, or you need a protective order in Salt Lake City, Provo or Ogden, you do not have to figure out Utah's new Title 81 family code alone. Utah rewrote its entire domestic-relations law in 2024, and the rules on waiting periods, parent-time and alimony catch people off guard. Call our free hotline any hour and get clear legal information about your situation in plain English. It is information, not advice, and it creates no attorney-client relationship, but it tells you what to do next. Call 1-844-690-0555.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Utah.
First, breathe, then get the facts before you sign or agree to anything. If children are involved, do not move out or take the kids out of state without understanding how Utah courts read that later. If you have been served with divorce or protective-order papers, note the deadline on page one, because missing it can let the other side win by default. Write down dates, save texts and keep money records. Then call 1-844-690-0555, free and 24/7, and an AI assistant trained on Utah and federal law will walk you through your options. No income test, no web form, no waiting for business hours.
Here is the trap that blindsides Utah families right now. On September 1, 2024, Utah moved its entire divorce, custody, alimony and child-support law from Title 30 into a brand-new Title 81. The rules mostly stayed the same, but every section number changed — the famous '30-3-35' parent-time schedule is now 81-9-302, and child support jumped from Title 78B, Chapter 12 into Title 81, Chapter 6. Most articles, blog posts and even some downloadable forms still cite the dead numbers, so you can do everything 'right' off an old guide and still file the wrong document. Before you rely on anything you read online, call 1-844-690-0555 and confirm it against the current Utah code, free, any hour.
If you cannot afford a private attorney, Utah has real, free and low-cost help for family-law matters. These organizations are independent of Legal Hotline; start with the call, then lean on them.
Do I need a reason to divorce in Utah, or can I just say it isn't working?
You do not need to prove fault. Utah is a no-fault state and the most common ground is irreconcilable differences (Utah Code Sections 81-4-405 and following), so you can simply state the marriage cannot be repaired. Fault grounds like adultery or cruelty exist but are rarely necessary. To confirm which ground fits and what it means for your case, call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour.
How long does a Utah divorce take?
By statute the court cannot finalize a divorce until at least 30 days after you file (Section 81-4-402(3)(a)), and you must have lived in your Utah county for 90 days before filing. An agreed, no-children divorce can wrap up in roughly one to three months; contested custody or property fights can take a year or more. For a realistic read on your timeline, call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7.
Is Utah a 50/50 community-property state?
No. Utah is an equitable-distribution state, so a judge divides marital property and debt fairly based on the facts of your marriage, which is not automatically an even split (Section 81-4-406). Separate property, like assets owned before the marriage or inherited, is often kept separate but not always. Our hotline can explain how Utah would likely treat your assets — call 1-844-690-0555.
I have kids — what extra steps does Utah require?
When minor children are involved, both parents must complete a mandatory divorce orientation course and a divorce education course before the decree can be entered, usually within set deadlines after filing or service. Custody and parent-time then turn on the child's best interests under Title 81, Chapter 9. To understand the courses and the custody process, call 1-844-690-0555 free, any time.
What is the minimum parent-time I can get if we can't agree?
Utah provides a standard minimum parent-time schedule for children ages 5–18 — the schedule formerly known as 30-3-35, now Utah Code Section 81-9-302. It commonly includes alternating weekends, a weekday visit, alternating holidays and extended summer time, and a court can order more or less based on the child's best interests. Call 1-844-690-0555 to talk through what a realistic schedule looks like for you.
How is child support calculated in Utah?
Utah uses an income-shares model now in Title 81, Chapter 6: both parents' incomes are combined, the base obligation is read from a statutory table, and each parent pays a proportional share adjusted for overnights. The Office of Recovery Services runs the official calculator and can enforce orders. For help understanding the numbers in your situation, call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7.
Will I have to pay alimony, and for how long?
Alimony in Utah is based on the recipient's need and the payer's ability to pay, weighing factors like the length of the marriage and the standard of living (Section 81-4-502). A court generally cannot order alimony to last longer than the marriage did, absent extenuating circumstances, and it ends on remarriage, death or proven cohabitation (Section 81-4-505). To gauge your exposure or entitlement, call 1-844-690-0555.
How fast can I get a protective order in Utah?
If you are in danger, a judge can issue an ex parte protective order the same day under Title 78B, Chapter 7, then must set a full hearing within about 20 days, and an ex parte order cannot be extended past 180 days. Utah offers cohabitant-abuse, dating-violence and stalking-injunction options. For an immediate safety hotline call UDVC LINKLine at 1-800-897-5465; to understand your legal options call 1-844-690-0555.
My spouse was served but missed the deadline — what happens?
If a party is served and does not respond by the deadline, the court can enter a default judgment, locking in custody, support and property terms without that party's input. The same risk runs the other way if you were served and let your own deadline slip. Do not let a default happen by accident — call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, to learn what to file and when.
Can I handle a Utah divorce myself without a lawyer?
Many Utahns file on their own using the courts' OCAP form-builder and the Self-Help Center, especially for uncontested, no-children cases. But custody, support, alimony or a business can get complicated fast, and the 2024 move to Title 81 means many online guides cite outdated statutes. Call 1-844-690-0555 to get current, plain-English information first — it's free, and there's no obligation to hire anyone.
Is the call really free, and are you a law firm?
Yes, calling 1-844-690-0555 is free and available 24/7, with no income test. Legal Hotline is not a law firm and not a public defender, and we give legal information, not legal advice — the call creates no attorney-client relationship. If you want representation, we can help you book a paid consultation with a Utah-licensed family law attorney. Call any time to get started.
Do you speak Spanish or can you help in another language?
Yes. The hotline can help in your language, including Spanish, which matters in communities across Salt Lake City, West Valley City and beyond. You describe your Utah family situation in your own words and get clear legal information about divorce, custody, support or protective orders. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7 — no web form, no waiting for business hours.
We connect frightened Utah families to clear legal information first, then to vetted local counsel when a case needs one. If you are a Utah-licensed family law attorney who wants qualified divorce, custody and protective-order referrals from across Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden, St. George and statewide, you can join our network. Reach out to learn how the referral path works — clients always come first, and the hotline stays free for them.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
Utah's family law changed under your feet in 2024, deadlines move fast, and a single missed date can decide custody, support or property. You do not have to face it alone or wait for a weekday. Call 1-844-690-0555 now — free, 24/7, no income test — and an AI assistant trained on Utah and federal law will give you clear information about your next step. It's information, not advice, and it creates no attorney-client relationship, but it tells you what to do tonight.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.