Friday, 14 September 2018

Why You Need an Attorney for Divorce

Why You Need an Attorney for Divorce

When you file for divorce, you are required to provide the court with certain information. For example, you must give the court the legal authority to actually process your case.

A divorce petition — occasionally also referred to as a divorce complaint — allows you to present certain facts that indicate you meet all jurisdictional requirements for the divorce. These conditions vary depending on the state in which you live.

If you have somehow made a mistake regarding the requirements for filing the divorce petition, a court will instantly dismiss it. Your case could also be dismissed if you fail to include any required item in the petition.

That’s not the only way you could make your case more difficult on yourself by improperly filing the petition. You must inform the court on what you are seeking in your divorce. If you do not understand the divorce laws in Utah, you could accidentally leave out requests for benefits to which you are legally entitled, which means you will not get that benefit once the divorce is finalized.

Importance of properly filing your divorce petition

For your divorce proceedings to begin, you must serve your spouse with a copy of the petition. However, you are not allowed to mail it. Instead, you may have a police officer or process server deliver the petition in person. This individual will also deliver what’s called a “summons,” which notifies your spouse of the due date by which he or she needs to respond.

What to Expect as a Witness in a Divorce Deposition

Divorce depositions, like those associated with most other civil cases, involve parties making sworn statements about certain elements of the case in question. This could include information on finances, assets or a variety of other issues.

In some situations, third-party witnesses might get called in to be deposed, as well. Attorneys representing either spouse could reach out and ask to speak to a witness directly to get key information. These witnesses may also sign an affidavit, a sworn written statement that contains information on issues relevant to the divorce case.

What happens at a divorce deposition?

To call in a witness to a divorce deposition, attorneys must serve that witness with a subpoena, either personally or via a police officer or process server. This subpoena will specify when and where the deposition will occur (typically in the office of the deposing attorney). At the deposition, a court reporter will be on hand to record everything the witness says. Both spouses and their divorce lawyers may also be present.

Witnesses in these depositions also have the right to legal counsel. This is especially important if a witness will be asked questions that would be protected by doctor-patient privileges or other sensitive issues. Because there are no judges present, lawyers have the ability to ask just about any question. Witnesses are required to answer honestly, unless an attorney instructs them not to answer at all.

To that end, it’s a good idea to at least speak with a family law attorney ahead of time if you are to be a witness at a deposition. This will give you an opportunity to go over the types of questions you should avoid answering (if applicable) and will give you a better feel for what to expect in this process.

Free Consultation with Divorce Lawyer in Utah

If you have a question about divorce law or if you need to start or defend against a divorce case in Utah call Ascent Law at (801) 676-5506. We will fight for you.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
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Avoid Motorcycle Accidents at Night

Avoid Motorcycle Accidents at Night

There’s a sense of newfound freedom when you’re driving your motorcycle out on the open roads in Utah, but that freedom comes with unexpected dangers — especially at night.

In the most recent breakdown of motorcycle accidents by the Insurance Information Institute, 36.2 percent of motorcycle riders in 2013 were injured or killed between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight. In smaller towns such as West Jordan, Utah which don’t have street lights on back roads, the likelihood of getting in a motorcycle accident rises exponentially — but you can beat the odds of dealing with hospitals and a lawyer if you take the proper safety precautions when riding your motorcycle at night.

CHECK OR INSTALL NEW HEADLIGHTS

Raising the angle of your headlight will help others on the road notice you earlier, even on windy roads in places like West Jordan. Changing the angle of your headlight for most bikes doesn’t require special tools, but every state has different regulations for how high you can aim your headlights, so be sure to be within the guidelines of Utah’s laws or whatever state you live in. You don’t want to have to hire a lawyer just over a headlight claim. You can also install dual headlights along with your single headlight to illuminate your motorcycle’s path even more. Also be sure to check if your headlights have dimmed over time or if your headlight lens is dirty.

MAKE YOUR GEAR MORE VISIBLE

When you’re driving your motorcycle at night, it might be best to leave the black leather jacket at home. On dark roads in small towns like West Jordan, you need to make sure you’re visible — or you’ll easily get in a motorcycle accident. Instead, opt for gear with reflectors and consider putting reflector decals on your bike. Even just one reflector on your bike, jacket or helmet will help you light up in the gloomy nights of West Jordan.

STAY FOCUSED WHILE RIDING

It might sound like it should go without saying, but even experienced riders take for granted that they don’t control the road environments around them. When there are cars behind you, be sure to lightly tap your brakes so they can see where you are on the road, and never assume that other drivers are going to obey the rules.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 16 percent of weekend drivers at night are driving under the influence. Police and a lawyer can deal with drunk drivers. You just need to be aware that they’re out there.

Following these simple, common sense steps will give you more time on the open roads in Utah, and you’ll spend less time at hospitals, auto shops or with your lawyer.

COMMON PERSONAL INJURIES DURING THE WINTER

With the holidays around the corner, you have a long list of things to finish. Everyone is running around purchasing gifts, meeting up with family and trying to get everywhere they need to be. Don’t ruin your holidays rushing around and end up in a car accident or sustaining a personal injury.

During the winter, personal injuries occur more often than during other seasons. Understand what injuries commonly occur and how you can get through winter season safely.

Car Accidents and Personal Injuries

Car accidents are far more common in the winter. Cold and icy conditions can make it more difficult to control your car. Weather can be a big problem when you’re on the roads, but another major factor when driving is all the people.

There are more drivers on the road driving for the holidays to see their friends and family. Especially on the actual holidays, people are more tempted to get behind the wheel intoxicated. Be careful when driving during the winter.

Getting Hurt with a Slip and Fall

Due to ice and snow, slip and falls become rather common during the winter. While going out to shop or visiting a family member’s home, wear proper shoes to keep you from falling. If you do happen to slip and fall walking into the store in Salt Lake City, Utah, a lawyer can help you decide if you have a good case on your hands as far as your injury is concerned.

Getting Burned and Injured

During the winter, there are more chances to get burned than you might think. Between space heaters, candles and holiday lights, there are injuries hiding around every corner. Be cautious when you are dealing with these materials.

Free Initial Consultation with a Personal Injury Lawyer

It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Legal problems come to everyone. Whether it’s your son who gets in a car wreck, your uncle who loses his job and needs to file for bankruptcy, your sister’s brother who’s getting divorced, or a grandparent that passes away without a will -all of us have legal issues and questions that arise. So when you have a law question, call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you!

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
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Thursday, 13 September 2018

Interstate Enforcement of Child Custody

Interstate Enforcement of Child Custody

As our society has become increasingly mobile, multistate child custody disputes have become more common. Fortunately, the states have adopted a uniform method for determining which state has jurisdiction over a child custody dispute. They also have agreed to honor custody determinations made by the courts of other states.

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) has been adopted by Utah and every other state. This law identifies which state exercises jurisdiction in child custody matters. A state has jurisdiction when:

  • The state is the child’s home state, meaning he or she lived there for at least six months before the proceeding.
  • The state was the child’s home state at some point during the preceding six months and one parent still lives there.
  • No other state has jurisdiction or the state, or states with jurisdiction have declined to exercise it, and the child has a significant connection to the state.

Once a state has exercised jurisdiction under the UCCJEA, no other state may assert jurisdiction or modify that state’s custody order, except in emergency cases involving an imminent risk of harm to the child. This is intended to prevent forum shopping, parental kidnapping and conflicting court orders.

Study Closely Analyzes 50-50 Custody After Divorce

A new study from Arizona State University has found that shared, 50-50 custody could be better for most children and parents alike after a divorce.

In many situations, children (especially young children) have a parent who has primary physical custody after a divorce, with the noncustodial parent getting visitation rights or occasional custody, and both parents sharing legal custody. However, the results from this recent study indicate children could benefit from having as close to equal time with both parents as possible after a divorce.

According to the study’s main author, the findings show that children who have good relationships with both parents are more likely to have better physical and mental health later in life. For example, children who had overnight visits with their fathers as infants and toddlers had higher-quality relationships with both their fathers and mothers both when they were 18 to 20 years old when compared to children who had no overnight visits with their fathers.

The study also concluded that an equal sharing of custody after divorce was more beneficial to mothers than the standard model of custody that has become so prevalent in America, in which children have one primary physical guardian. By spending more time with their fathers during infancy and toddlerhood, children had stronger relationships with their mothers — in addition to their fathers — later in life.

The study has gained national attention among sociologists and psychologists, and while it is not likely to influence the way courts determine child custody arrangements anytime soon, its results are certainly worth analyzing.

Grounds a Parent Can Use to Seek Full Custody or Child Support

In making decisions about child custody and support, Utah family courts consider many factors, including the maturity, morality, and stability of each parent and their willingness to make decisions in the best interest of their children. They also consider how well each parent communicates and cooperates with the other on matters related to their child.

Utah courts frown upon the unwillingness of one parent to honor the parenting time of the other since children need time with both parents. In addition, unauthorized relocation or abduction of the child to a distant location requires the support of an aggressive and skillful attorney to protect your rights—and the health and well-being of your child.

Well-being of the child is paramount

Ultimately, the family courts put the interests of children first. In cases where the minor child is old enough, his or her wishes may be taken into consideration. In addition, one parent might receive sole custody if the other has a history of domestic violence or substance abuse. However, if one of the parents makes unfounded accusations of child abuse against the other, this could also result in a loss of custody.

In Utah, child support payments are largely based upon income, according to statutory guidelines and formulas[CK1] published on the Utah Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website. The higher wage earner usually pays a higher percentage of child support. However, courts consider special circumstances affecting the family, such as the special medical needs of the child and educational needs of either parent.

Best to determine your own settlement

It is advisable for divorcing spouses to negotiate the terms of their own divorce settlement. After all, they know their unique family dynamics best. If parting spouses cannot agree on issues like child custody or support, the courts make the decision for them. And if either party lies about his or her income or hides financial assets during the divorce proceeding, and it is uncovered afterwards, the divorce case could be reopened and the lying spouse penalized.

Free Consultation with Child Custody Lawyer

If you have a question about child custody question or if you need to collect back child support, please call Ascent Law at (801) 676-5506. We will aggressively fight for you.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
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Severance Agreement Lawyer

Severance Agreement Lawyer

No matter how generous a severance package seems, employees should never accept it without extremely careful consideration.

After all, severance agreements are primarily designed to let the employer off the hook from future lawsuits—and that is not always in the best interest of the employee.

WHY DO EMPLOYERS OFFER SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS?

Severance agreements are voluntary contracts that offer special compensation and/or benefits to an employee who has been fired or laid off.

Employers offer severance agreements to protect themselves from lawsuits; they may do so as a general preventative measure, or in response to specific concerns that the employee being terminated could have grounds to sue.

Many severance agreements include “release of claims” provisions, which prevent the employee from pursuing litigation after leaving the company.

Severance packages are thus designed as a sort of quid-pro-quo: relinquish your right to sue or disparage the company, and receive more compensation than you would have under the standard termination proceedings.

If a company is offering you a severance agreement, it is crucial to consider their intent, your rights, and whether what you are offered in return for your compliance or silence is truly a fair trade.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN A TYPICAL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT?

Typical severance agreements can include the following provisions and requirements:

Monetary compensation and extension of benefits: Employers can offer a set amount of money or an extension of your previous salary for a certain period of time, so that you have the financial means to comfortably transition to your next professional opportunity.

Many employers also offer an extension of medical or pension benefits, which expires on a set date.

Non-compete clause: In exchange for the compensation offered in the agreement, employees are commonly unable to work for a direct competitor or to start a similar company within a certain period of time.

If no time limit is mentioned, it’s worth negotiating—if you have spent years becoming an expert in a highly specialized field, for example, a broad and indefinite non-compete clause could restrict your professional opportunities.

Confidentiality agreement: If your employer has committed any type of professional violation or other wrongdoing, you need to know whether the severance agreement prohibits you from reporting it.

On the surface, confidentiality agreements protect employers from having their proprietary information shared with competitors, but they can also serve as a means of dissuading current and former employees from blowing the whistle on certain types of misconduct.

Make sure to seek legal advice about what kinds of information the confidentiality agreement covers (including non-disparagement clauses), so that you understand your legal rights going forward.

Release of claims: People who are part of a minority group or legally protected demographic should take particular note of release of claims provisions. Workplace discrimination is not always overt, but employees can be abruptly terminated from “at-will” positions without any indication of sub-par job performance or professional misconduct.

In these circumstances, any such employee who signs a severance agreement with a release of claims provision may be giving up their right to pursue a discrimination lawsuit.

Consider carefully, therefore, whether the compensation you are being offered is worth giving up your right to speak up about any wrongdoing that your employer may have inflicted upon you.

POINTS OF NEGOTIATION: RESPECTIVE RIGHTS

Being terminated from a job can be an incredibly stressful experience. Unfortunately, some employers take advantage of employees’ distress and pressure them to accept severance packages quickly.

Regardless of whether you seek attorney counsel, it’s not advisable to sign a severance agreement immediately, or even overnight. Giving you only 24 hours to sign is an unfair practice.

You are entitled to review the agreement over a reasonable period of time (at least a couple of weeks, in most cases), and you are entitled to have a lawyer review the contract.

Bear in mind, also, that it is your right to negotiate. Many professionals have found themselves in the emotional position of being terminated, only to have a seemingly sympathetic HR representative hand over the severance agreement, and then ask the employee to read it over and accept it on the spot.

It is to the advantage of most employers to convince you that what you’re offered is the only available offer. It is rare for employers to mention, therefore, that signing the agreement is your choice, and that you have the right to negotiate the terms of it.

Give yourself time to consider whether the benefits of the severance package outweigh the drawbacks—because there are always drawbacks.

THE COST OF GETTING COMPENSATION 

The financial burden of hourly attorney fees can prevent employees from seeking professional help with the negotiation process. This enables employers to get away with an unfair bargain.

By choosing a contingency-fee law firm to help you navigate this difficult transition, you avoid the burdensome costs of litigation.

Should you find yourself in a legal dispute regarding your severance package, make sure to seek counsel from an experienced litigator so that you are fully prepared to navigate a potential lawsuit.

Negotiating a severance package is a difficult and important process, and you owe it to yourself to get it right. With patience, an understanding of your rights, and qualified legal representation, you have the opportunity to make a smoother transition into the next phase of your career.

Free Initial Consultation with a Severance Agreement Lawyer

When you need help with a Severance Agreement, call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
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Wednesday, 12 September 2018

Impact of Divorce on Retirement

Impact of Divorce on Retirement

While divorce rates for Americans overall appear to be falling, older Americans are still getting divorced at fairly high rates. According to Bloomberg, this has led to some interesting outcomes in terms of how older Americans are working and retiring.

Approximately one in five Americans over the age of 65 are still working, a record numbers. In fact, this is twice as many as in the early 1980s, and by far the most since Medicare was launched in the mid-1960s. Many experts are linking these trends to the divorce rate in the Baby Boomer generation, as these later breakups are forcing people to delay their retirements.

Divorce Has a Greater Impact on Women

A joint study at Boston College and Mathematica Policy Research also indicates that this higher level of monetary stress is also playing a significant role in the numbers of older women who are returning to the workforce.

According to the study, the later a woman gets divorced, the more likely it is she will be working full time late in her life. The roughly 56,000 women in the study who divorced while in their 50s were about 10 percentage points more likely to be working full time between the ages of 50 and 74 compared to women who divorced before the age of 30.

Additionally, women who were born in the early 1950s were 19 percentage points more likely to be working full time after the age of 50 than women who were born in the 1920s, with factors such as race and education controlled in the study.

Men without Full-Time Jobs Most Likely to Get Divorced

A recent Harvard University Department of Sociology study has revealed that men who do not have a full-time job may be more likely to get divorced than their peers.

The study suggests that despite what many people think, factors like a couple’s current earnings or a wife’s ability to support herself post-divorce do not really play a role in whether a couple will get divorced.

Researchers looked at data on divorcing couples between 1975 and 2011. What they found was that whether or not husbands were engaged in full-time work outside of the home was strongly linked with the couple’s risk of getting divorced. However, couples who got married before that time period were more likely to be affected by the amount of housework being done by the wife.

This appears to mean that what matters is not the cash itself, but rather the employment status and division of labor at home — and their symbolic value. Researchers posit that these gendered expectations of each spouse have a significant impact on the health of a relationship.

Predicting the risk of divorce

Researchers analyzed data collected in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, focusing on 6,300 couples in their first marriages. In marriages since 1975 in which the husband did not work full time outside of the home for any reason that was not his choice (including trouble finding a job or having lost a job), the average risk for divorce within the next year was 3.3 percent. That’s compared to just 2.5 percent for husbands who were employed full time.

Thus, while the idea of the “male breadwinner” might seem like it’s becoming an outdated cultural trope, it still appears to have an influence on the status of many relationships.

Free Initial Consultation with a Lawyer in Utah

It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Legal problems come to everyone. Whether it’s your son who gets in a car wreck, your uncle who loses his job and needs to file for bankruptcy, your sister’s brother who’s getting divorced, or a grandparent that passes away without a will -all of us have legal issues and questions that arise. So when you have a law question, call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you!

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
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Living Trust Attorney

Living Trust Attorney

A living trust can serve a number of purposes.  A living trust may also be known as a grantor trust or revocable living trust. The trust can help you avoid the probate process. It can also provide lifetime benefits such as property management in the event of disability or incapacity. There are many considerations in establishing a living trust and a living trust attorney can help determine whether a trust would be right for you. It is important to recognize that a living trust will only control those assets that are transferred into the name of the trust. Assets that remain in the name of a person at death still must be transferred pursuant to a last will or, if none, through intestate administration. A living trust attorney in Utah can guide you through this process.

As noted, one of the benefits of a living trust is to avoid probating a Will.  When a person dies and leaves an estate to be administered through a Will, the Utah Surrogate’s Court must receive the original of the Will along with a probate petition and other papers.  The validity of the Will cannot be finalized until the court is satisfied that all aspects of probate are complete.  One of these aspects is the notification of all of the decedent’s next of kin who are given an opportunity to contest a Will.  If a person creates and funds a living trust during life then, upon his death, the provisions of the trust can direct the immediate disposition of the trust assets without any need for a court to validate the document.  Also, no notice of the trust disposition is required to be given to the decedent’s heirs.  As a result, estate litigation may be avoided.  Another benefit of a trust is that there is no need to attempt to identify and locate the decedent’s next of kin.  This may be important particularly in cases where the heirs at law may be very distant relatives such as cousins who have had no contact with the trust creator for many decades.  Similarly, if a person had been adopted the search for his natural relatives can be very difficult.  In a Surrogate’s case when issues arise concerning next of kin, there may be the need to prove kinship which can require the use of genealogists and locating family documents such as birth and death records.

As can be seen, there are advantages to a trust since the transfer of assets at death can take place without complicated court proceedings and in relative privacy without public record filings. However, there may be some negative aspects to a living trust. There is generally no savings on federal estate or state inheritance taxes. Also, setting up a trust may be expensive, and the expense is immediate, not delayed till after the grantor’s death. However, in the long run depending on the circumstances, the expense may be worthwhile if the trust provides the appropriate estate plan for the client.

Types of Advance Directives

Advanced directives include such documents as a Living Will, Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney. These documents provide a means by which a person can express their health care and property management desires and appoint someone to carry out those wishes. A Utah advance directive lawyer can help draft these instruments on your behalf.

These advance directive examples provide directions and named individuals who can express and advance a person’s desires and intentions for their care and well-being when they are no longer able to make these decisions for themselves.

In Utah, a Living Will is an expression of a person’s intent concerning life prolonging treatment. A person can state that they do not want such treatment or measures to be used if they are considered beyond help such as brain-dead.

Utah law provides for a Health Care Proxy whereby a person can designate a person as an agent to make health care decisions if he or she is unable to do so for themself.

A Utah Durable Power of Attorney allows a person to name an agent who can carry out a number of specifically designated property management powers concerning matters such as real estate transactions, banking transactions and tax matters. An advance directive lawyer can assist Utah residents with creating this document.

In the event a person becomes incapacitated and has not put Advanced Directives in place, it may be necessary to have the Court appoint a Guardian to make health care and property management decisions. Guardianship proceedings can be complex and time consuming and a Guardian may not be fully aware of a person’s health care preferences and other desires.

Guardianship proceedings require that a hearing be held by the Court and that a person be found to be incapacitated. Essentially, Incapacity occurs when a person is unable to handle their personal needs or property management due to some disability and because they do not appreciate or recognize their disability they may suffer harm. Utah Guardianship Attorneys are aware that Article 81 of the Utah Mental Hygiene Law contains the provisions regarding these Court proceedings. The person who commences or files the proceeding is called the Petitioner and the disabled person is referred to as the Alleged Incapacitated Person or AIP. The Court typically will appoint a Court Evaluator to review and investigate the facts and issues and to report the Evaluator’s recommendations.

Free Consultation with a Living Trust Lawyer in Utah

If you are here, you probably have an estate issue or living trust that you need help with, call Ascent Law for your free estate law consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
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Tuesday, 11 September 2018

Should You File For Divorce Before Your Spouse?

Should You File For Divorce Before Your Spouse

Depending on your situation, it could really matter whether you or your spouse file for divorce first. Sometimes, certain factors in your overall settlement may be influenced depending on who initiated the divorce proceedings.

Often, the spouse that files for divorce may have more perceived control over the divorce process because they have had additional time to prepare. Because they determined when the divorce would begin, it may appear that the spouse who files was able to assemble the best, most skilled team of lawyers to advise and guide them.

The spouse who files for divorce may also have time to make necessary financial preparations, such as saving to pay their attorney, strengthening their credit score and being able to sort through all financial documents related to their case. Filing first may also allow for a spouse to prevent their partner from hiding assets, documents or other evidence relevant to your negotiations.

Filing first may also determine where your divorce proceedings are held. If you and your spouse live in different counties or even different states, the jurisdiction in which your divorce is filed could have a significant impact on your settlement outcome.

Additionally, by filing for divorce before your spouse, you may be first to present your case if your divorce ends up in a trial. This could have positive or negative implications on your divorce attorney’s strategy, thus it is worth speaking with a legal advisor before entering into a divorce.

Finally, the member of the couple who files for divorce may include certain grounds for divorce in their initial paperwork that sway the perception of a case. For example, a husband may note that he is filing for divorce because his wife committed adultery. Even if this claim turns out to be untrue, the allegation may set the tone for the rest of the divorce proceedings.

Asset Protection: Should You Care About Bitcoin?

In the past year, Bitcoin has become a household word. If heading for divorce, should you care about alternative currencies?

During 2013, the United States Senate began an investigation into the value and theory of alternative currencies like Bitcoin. Despite wild fluctuations in price, an agent for the Secret Service testified at a November hearing before the Senate “[t]here are plenty of opportunities for digital currencies to operate within existing laws and regulations.”

Whether Bitcoin can hold value and serve as a reliable medium of exchange in the future remains to be seen. It seems likely Bitcoin or another currency may take hold, providing novel financial services that become standard as PayPal did in the past.

So what does Bitcoin have to do with divorce?

Hiding assets during divorce is nothing new. Money may be surreptitiously removed from the divorce process through a number of means, including:

  • Hidden financial accounts created to hold wealth
  • Delay of bonus or wage increases
  • Overpayment of tax obligations
  • Money funneled into purchase of valuable objects
  • Funds siphoned to family and friends until after divorce

During divorce, both parties are required to disclose all assets. Spouses inclined to hide money may not be deterred by legal requirements, but at present, there are real roadblocks to using Bitcoin to hide marital wealth, including:

  • Variable value. Money invested in Bitcoin may not hold value for a spouse attempting to hide assets.
  • Difficulty of exchange. If transferred to another holder, Bitcoin may be difficult to retrieve.
  • Lack of regulation. There is little legal recourse if a Bitcoin transaction goes bad.

Free Consultation with Divorce Lawyer in Utah

If you have a question about divorce law or if you need to start or defend against a divorce case in Utah call Ascent Law at (801) 676-5506. We will fight for you.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
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