In the world of divorce, child custody can often be the most complex and emotional battleground. In this article, we will look at the hypothetical case of Laura and Alex, a Utah couple, and how they navigated the tricky issue of child custody in their divorce.

Laura started the divorce process by filing a Petition for Divorce, meeting the mandatory residency requirement of 90 days. Alex was served with the petition and filed an Answer. The couple had considerable disagreements, primarily revolving around the custody of their two children.

After filing, Laura and Alex were required by Utah law to attend mediation. This process, aimed at resolving their disputes in a non-adversarial setting, did not lead to an agreement. Laura wanted sole custody, while Alex sought joint custody, leading to a stalemate.

The scheduling conference followed, where the judge set a timetable for the discovery process and upcoming hearings. As part of discovery, each party had to disclose their finances, living situation, and parenting capacity, among other things.

During the hearings, the court had to decide on physical custody (where the children live) and legal custody (decision-making power over important aspects of the children’s lives). The couple disagreed on both fronts.

Laura argued that Alex’s demanding job left him with little time for the children, while Alex contended that he could adjust his schedule and that his active involvement in the children’s lives was vital for their wellbeing.

The court ordered a custody evaluation, where a neutral third party observed the children’s interactions with each parent, assessed the children’s needs, and each parent’s ability to meet those needs.

The evaluator recommended joint legal custody but primary physical custody to Laura, with Alex having regular visitation rights. The recommendation was based on the belief that children generally benefit from maintaining a relationship with both parents. However, given Alex’s work commitments, the children would primarily reside with Laura.

In court, the judge considered the custody evaluator’s report, along with factors such as the parents’ conduct and moral standards, the children’s preferences (since they were of sufficient age), and each parent’s ability to act in the children’s best interests. Eventually, the court confirmed the evaluator’s recommendation.

Laura and Alex’s case illustrates that even the toughest custody battles can be resolved, with the children’s best interests at heart. The key is to remember that the objective of custody battles is not winning, but ensuring the wellbeing of the children involved.