Utah Divorce Laws -
What to Expect When Help Yourself Divorce Prepares Your Utah Divorce Papers

Utah Residency Requirements.
To file for divorce in Utah, either party must have been an actual and bona fide resident of Utah and of the county where the divorce is filed, or stationed in Utah as a member of the U.S. Armed forces, for at least three months immediately before filing the divorce papers.

 

Utah Grounds for Divorce.
When Help Yourself Divorce prepares your divorce papers, your divorce will be filed based on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.

 

Filing for Divorce in Utah.
You will file for divorce in the Utah county where either you live, or where your spouse lives.

 

Serving Your Spouse with Divorce Papers.
Formal service (for example, using a Sheriff or process server) is not required in an uncontested divorce in Utah. All you need to do is mail or hand-deliver the papers to your spouse so your spouse can sign them.

 

Waiting Period.
In Utah, there is a 90 day waiting period after filing your papers before the divorce can be finalized. However, Help Yourself Divorce will provide you with paperwork that you can use to request the court waive that 90 day waiting period. So if you don't want to wait, all you have to do is sign and file that paperwork, and if approved, the court will grant your divorce sooner (usually within about 2 weeks after filing). If you don't mind waiting, you don't have to file that particular paperwork.

 

Final Hearing.
Utah does not require a final hearing. The court will simply review your paperwork and sign your decree. When it's ready, they will either mail it back to you, or call you to pick it up.

 

Additional Information.
Utah laws require a mandatory parenting course for divorcing parents, designed to "educate and sensitize divorcing parties to their children's needs, both during and after the divorce process. The course shall instruct both parties about divorce and its impacts on their child(ren), their family relationship, and their financial responsibilities for their child(ren)."

 

 

©Help Yourself Divorce 2002-2008

IMPORTANT: Help Yourself Divorce is a paralegal service, not a law firm. Seek help from an attorney if you need legal advice.