Understanding Child Custody Laws in Utah

Child custody is one of the most emotionally sensitive parts of a divorce, and it impacts the whole family. If you’re a parent in Utah, understanding how the custody process actually works and what your rights are (or are not) is essential to protecting your children and your relationship with them. At Brown Family Law, we guide families through this process with compassion, strategy, and clarity with the goal of making this process as least impactful as possible to you and your family.

Types of Custody in Utah

Utah law recognizes two main types of custody:

• Legal Custody: The issuance to a parent (or both parents) the right to make important decisions about the child’s life including things like education, healthcare, religion, and their general welfare
• Physical Custody: The determination of where the child(red) will primarily reside and how parenting time is divided

Each type of custody can be either SOLE where one parent has exclusive rights, or JOINT where both parents share rights and responsibilities. In many cases, Utah courts prefer joint custody, assuming it serves the child’s best interests.

How Utah Courts Decide Custody

Custody decisions are based on what’s in the best interests of the child. Utah judges consider multiple factors, including:

• The child’s emotional and physical needs
• The parents’ ability to co-parent and communicate
• Each parent’s moral character and emotional stability
• History of domestic violence or substance abuse
• The child’s preference (if age-appropriate)
• The strength of the child’s relationship with each parent

Parenting Plans

A parenting plan outlines the details of custody and parenting time. This plan goes beyond pick up and drop off times and Utah courts often require parents to submit a plan that includes things such as:

• Weekly schedules
• Holiday/vacation arrangements
• Transportation responsibilities
• How disputes will be resolved
• Decision-making procedures

If parents cannot agree, the court may impose a plan it deems appropriate with or without the above considerations.

Modifying Custody Orders

Custody arrangements can be modified, but it’s not common and usually requires specific conditions such as a material and substantial change in circumstances that has occurred (a move, change in school, documented needs of a child from professionals,) or if the proposed modification is in the child’s best interest. (Think a new job of one spouse or a relocation necessity, a shift in the child’s needs, or significant parenting behavior issues.

How Brown Family Law Can Help

At Brown Family Law, we specialize in Utah divorce and custody law. We have a long history of helping parents through this process and can help:

• Develop parenting plans that work
• Fight for fair and favorable custody outcomes
• Modify existing custody orders when life changes
• Resolve conflicts through negotiation or litigation

We understand what’s at stake—and we’re here to protect what matters most: your children.