Utah Parent-Time Lawyer

Are you looking for a parent-time lawyer in Utah?

At Felt Family Law & Mediation, we provide parent-time representation from a firm with over 10 years of practice and recognition from the Utah State Bar.

If you’re trying to set up, change, or enforce a parent-time schedule in Utah, you need an attorney who understands your situation and has the experience to help you. The schedule in your order decides which weekends, holidays, and summer weeks you spend with your children.

Jonathan L. Felt has practiced family law in Utah since 2016 and serves as a Guardian ad Litem in contested children’s cases. We help parents build schedules that work in real life and go to court when the other parent won’t cooperate. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a Utah parent-time lawyer.

Parent-Time Lawyer Utah

A parent-time lawyer represents a parent in court matters about when each parent spends time with their child. Utah uses the term parent-time rather than visitation, and it applies whether the parents were married or not. The attorney negotiates the schedule, drafts the parenting plan, and asks the court to modify or enforce the order when problems come up.

In 2022, 20.3% of births in Utah were to unmarried mothers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many of those parents will eventually need a court-ordered schedule, since no parent-time order exists until someone files a case.

Types of Parent-Time Cases We Handle in Utah

Parent-time disputes come up in divorces, paternity cases, and long after a final order is entered. We handle:

• Initial parent-time schedules. In a divorce or paternity case, we negotiate a schedule that fits each parent’s work hours, the children’s school calendar, and the distance between homes.
• Parenting plans. A co-parenting plan spells out exchanges, holidays, communication, and decision-making. Specific terms reduce the arguments that vague orders tend to create.
• Minimum and expanded schedules. Utah has a statutory minimum schedule and an optional schedule with more overnights. We explain which one a court is likely to use and when a parent can ask for more time.
• Long-distance parent-time. When parents live far apart, the schedule usually shifts toward longer blocks in summer and over holidays. We build long-distance parent-time plans that account for travel costs and logistics.
• Parent-time for young children. Children under five have a separate schedule structure in Utah. We help parents plan for how time increases as the child gets older.
• Supervised parent-time. When there are safety concerns, the court can require a third party to be present. We represent parents requesting supervision and parents working to have it lifted.
• Right of first refusal and custom terms. Parenting plans can require a parent to offer the other parent the chance to care for the child before calling a babysitter. We draft these and other custom terms when they suit the family.
• Modifications. A move, a new work schedule, or a child’s changing needs can justify a new schedule. We file and respond to parent-time modifications.
• Enforcement. When a parent repeatedly withholds time or ignores exchanges, the court can order make-up time and other remedies. We pursue enforcement when the schedule isn’t followed.
• Parent-time mediation. Many schedule disputes can be settled with a neutral mediator. Jonathan is a Master Mediator, and mediation often resolves disputes faster than a contested hearing.

Why Choose Felt Family Law & Mediation as My Parent-Time Lawyer in Utah?

A Guardian ad Litem’s Perspective on Parent-Time

Jonathan L. Felt founded Felt Family Law & Mediation in 2016 and practices only family law. As a Guardian ad Litem, he is appointed to represent children in highly contested cases, which gives him direct insight into how judges think about schedules. Before law school, he taught middle and high school and worked in special education, so he understands how school routines and a child’s needs affect a workable plan.

He earned his J.D. magna cum laude from Hamline University School of Law and is a member of the Utah State Bar, the American Bar Association, and the American Inns of Court. Parent-time is closely tied to legal and physical custody, so parents benefit from working with a custody lawyer in Utah who handles both.

Parent-Time Results for Our Clients

Our clients’ outcomes have included:

• Parenting schedules settled at mediation instead of trial
• A father keeping his daughter as primary physical custodian after a co-parent’s out-of-state move
• Updated schedules that fit parents’ work obligations

Scott Haderlie said, “I can tell he is truly interested in making sure the process is fair.” More reviews are on our testimonials page.

What Is Important to Understand About Parent-Time Cases in Utah?

Utah Parent-Time Schedules and Best Interest Factors

Utah courts start with the child’s best interest and use statutory schedules as a guide. How physical custody and parent-time interact depends on these main concepts:

• Minimum schedule. For school-age children, this generally includes alternating weekends, one weekday evening, alternating holidays, and extended summer time.
• Optional expanded schedule. Utah allows a schedule with more overnights for the noncustodial parent when the parents agree or the court finds it appropriate.
• Schedules for children under five. Younger children follow a separate structure with shorter, more frequent visits.
• Best interest factors. Courts consider the child’s needs, each parent’s relationship with the child, each parent’s ability to cooperate, and any history of abuse or neglect.

What Are Important Aspects of a Parent-Time Case?

A few rules can change how parent-time works in practice:

• Holidays. Utah’s schedule alternates many holidays between parents by even and odd years, and the plan can adjust that.
• Communication. Parents generally have a right to reasonable phone or video contact with the child during the other parent’s time.
• Relocation. A parent moving 150 miles or more must give the other parent notice, and the schedule may need to change.
• Denial of parent-time. Repeatedly withholding scheduled time can lead to court-ordered make-up time and other consequences.

What Is the Parent-Time Case Timeline?

Most parent-time cases follow a similar pattern, whether they start with a divorce, a paternity case, or a modification:

1. A petition is filed and served on the other parent.
2. Either parent can request a temporary parent-time order while the case is pending.
3. The parents exchange information and attend mediation.
4. If disputes remain, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem or order a custody evaluation.
5. The court enters a final order with a parent-time schedule.
6. Agreed schedules can be finalized in a few months. Contested cases often take a year or more.

What Should You Bring to Your Parent-Time Consultation?

Records of your time with your children and your communication with the other parent are the most useful. Please bring:

• Any current custody or parent-time order
• A calendar showing the schedule you actually follow
• Texts or emails about exchanges, missed visits, or schedule changes
• Your work schedule and the children’s school calendar

At the consultation, we’ll review your situation, explain how Utah’s schedules would likely apply, and outline your options.

Utah Parent-Time Court and Local Resources

Parent-time cases in northern Utah are heard by the Second District Court, which covers Davis, Morgan, and Weber counties from courthouses in Farmington, Bountiful, Layton, Ogden, and Morgan. Parents in these cases must also complete a court-approved parenting course. We represent parents throughout the region, whether they need a Syracuse child custody lawyer, a Layton child custody lawyer, or an Ogden family lawyer.

Reach Out to Felt Family Law & Mediation to Schedule a Consultation

Your parent-time schedule shapes your relationship with your children week to week. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a Utah parent-time attorney at Felt Family Law & Mediation. We’ll review your situation, answer your questions, and explain your options. Our office responds to inquiries promptly.