I Live in Utah and my Spouse Lives in Another State; Should I File for Divorce in Utah?

Years ago, you and your spouse realized your marriage wasn’t working.

You moved back to Utah, probably to be closer to family, and your spouse stayed where you were living.

Now, you’ve decided it’s time to divorce, but you’re not sure where you should file.

Here in Utah? Back where we used to live?

The answer depends on a few things.

First, how long you’ve been in Utah. If you don’t have kids, and you’ve been here for more than 3 months, then you can file in Utah. If you have kids, and they’ve been in Utah for more than six months, then you can file in Utah.

Second, where your property and stuff is located. If your property is located where you used to live, and your spouse has never been to Utah, then you may need to file for divorce where you used to live. That’s a pretty odd set of circumstances that doesn’t happen often, so you’ll likely be fine filing in Utah, even if your property is in another state.

Third, which state has laws that will benefit you the most. All states have different divorce laws. For example, Indiana has very restrictive alimony laws, as does Texas. On the other hand, California and New York have very progressive generous alimony laws. If you had to choose between trying to get alimony in Utah and trying to get alimony in Indiana, you’ll almost always come out ahead in Utah. If you had to choose between fighting for alimony in Utah or California, you’ll almost always want to pick California.

Alimony is just one example. You’ll want to sit down with attorneys in both states and compare what you can expect to happen in each. That will help you decide where to file for divorce.

Call Brown Family Law

If you find yourself facing a Utah divorce or paternity situation, please call 801.685.9999 for an in-person consultation, or use our online scheduling tool.

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Daniel Tafur

Great support, Russell and Connor were amazing and got my case dismissed in only 2 months. Great communication with weekly calls. Easy to work with and were very conscious on not overspending my budget. Great team.

Response from the owner:Daniel, thank you for the kind words, and happy Russell and Connor did well for you.

heather saris

Anne Greyson long was great to work with she really listens and fights for her clients thank you so much for all your hard work

Response from the owner:Thank you, Heather. Glad Anne-Greyson helped you so well.

Chris Porter

You get what you pay for, and the Brown Family team is worth every penny. We truly appreciated their team-based approach, making sure that every detail of our case was thoughtfully handled. They were incredibly easy to work with, kept us informed throughout the process, and made sure no question ever went unanswered. By far the best family attorneys I’ve worked with, and the only ones I’ll call if I ever need legal help again.

Response from the owner:Chris, thank you. Glad we were able to guide you through your process.

Joselyn Cortes

Andrew made the whole process smooth and quick! Kept me updated on any changes, and followed up with me constantly!

Made me feel at ease throughout the whole process and made sure I felt seen/ heard!

Response from the owner:Joselyn, thank you for the kind words.

Suzanne Stevens

David Handy is my attorney and he is excellent. He understands my cases and is well informed to defend my needs and the needs of my kids. He is supportive and compassionate. Telling me how things are and what to expect. He does very well with my high conflict cases (protective order and divorce). I highly recommend him and the Brown Family Law firm. Everyone I have talked to is helpful. Especially Conor Schetzel who is currently the paralegal on my cases.

Response from the owner:Suzanne, thank you and glad David has taken care of you.

Jaren Harmon

Nathaniel Garrabrandt and Brown Family Law is where I send people who are seeking Divorce. Highly professional and compassionate. Thank you!

Response from the owner:Jaren, thank you for the referrals.

Meghann Christensen

I cannot say enough good about my experience with Brown Family Law. Ray Hingson and paralegal Carren did an excellent job with my case. I will definitely use this firm again for any legal issues.

Response from the owner:Meghann, so glad Ray and Carren took good care of you.

Monica Cooper

I have worked with Andrew Christensen many times in a variety of situations. I am very impressed with his friendly demeanor in a difficult situation. I would highly recommend him to you without any reservations.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Monica.

Michael Bringhurst

Highly recommend Brown Family Law. Life is hard, divorce is harder, and Andrew Christensen is your guy to help you through to the other side.

Response from the owner:Mike, thank you for the kind words and the referrals.

David Thimm

When you’re going through a tough time and need legal help, this firm isn’t just a one-person operation. It’s a team of attorneys who work together to support you every step of the way. So you’re not just getting a lawyer, you’re getting a legal team behind you.

Navigating the legal system was a steep learning curve for me, and my situation was fairly complex. What stood out about this law firm was the way multiple attorneys collaborated to address my case. It wasn’t just one person working in isolation, but a team supporting each other to find the best path forward. That kind of collective effort is a real strength, especially in hard out complex situations like mine.

There was one issue I felt should have had a different outcome with the court. When I brought it up, the team responded in a very professional and respectful manner, which I truly appreciated. It came to my understanding that the legal system sometimes works in a way that is distant than I thought. This was presented to me in a way that someone outside of the legal system could understand.

In my experience, this firm takes the time to not only assist you, but also help you understand why things are happening. That made a big difference for me, and it’s something that really sets them apart.

Response from the owner:David, thank you for our conversation and taking the time to leave this review.

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I Live in Utah and my Spouse Lives in Another State; Should I File for Divorce in Utah?

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