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Many people think owning a home guarantees uninterrupted possession of the property. Yet, in some states a complete stranger can get title to a property without the owner's consent. Adverse possession allows a trespasser to obtain ownership of land under certain circumstances. Here, we'll take a brief look at Utah's version of the law.

When residents of Utah pass away without a valid will their estate is subject to the laws of intestacy. Intestate succession can be a complicated process. The way the court distributes property depends on the type of assets and the number of relatives. We'll take a look at some of the major aspects of intestate succession in Utah.

Guardianship's are typically set up when an adult is considered “incapacitated” in some manner. Persons are deemed incapacitated when they have trouble making decisions related to their everyday well-being. Under Utah Code Section 75-1-201 this means that the adult cannot process information correctly, cannot communicate his or her needs and is unable to fulfill basic necessities. If the inability to act significantly affects a person’s safety or health, the court may decide to appoint a guardian.

Many people mistakenly believe that wills do not have to go through the probate. This is not true! In fact, the best way to avoid the arduous probate process is to make a living (or inter-vivos) trust. These trusts can be created in conjunction with a will, or as an alternative to one. Creating a living trust will save time, money, and the hassle of dealing with probate hearings. Here, we'll look at the basic aspects of living trusts.

Interaction with grandparents is an important aspect of a child's life. Unfortunately, regular visits with grandparents can be uprooted when a couple goes through a divorce. Yet, what happens if a child wants to continue a close relationship with a grandparent during and after a divorce? What if the maternal or paternal grandparents want to assert visitation rights with the child? These issues are covered in the area of law known as grandparents rights.

Utahns in abusive relationships can seek protection in the court system. The court can assist these people by issuing "stay away" orders. Under Utah law the court can issue a restraining order or a protective order amongst others. These two orders are similar in what they do, but they address different situations. Here, we will look at the differences between restraining orders and protective orders.

Each state sets regulations for adoptions that occur within its jurisdiction. These rules determine who can be an adoptive parent, who is adoptable, and how proceedings occur. Utah has its own specific laws regarding adoption which are codified at Utah Code 78B, Chapter 6, Part 1. Here, we will look at some of the important aspects of the Utah Adoption Act.

According to the Deseret News, shortly after House Speaker Greg Hughes revealed his clear disgust and frustration over the conditions and behavior at Salt Lake City’s overcrowded homeless shelter, the mayors and governor took notice. Hughes literally stated the need for a homeless "czar" and even casually suggested the National Guard may be needed to handle the ongoing crime situation.

In the past few years some states have chosen to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Utah is not among those marijuana friendly states. In Utah the sale and possession of marijuana is still a crime. Here, we will review some of the charges and penalties involved with marijuana use in the 45th state.

For many people, your real property investments, including your home, are a large percentage of your total assets. Placing your real property into a revocable living trust could benefit you greatly by allowing certain exemptions, deductions and credits that would otherwise not be available to you.

Many divorcing couples own a family business operated by one or both individuals. When it comes to separating assets it can be difficult to determine how to split the business. Separating interests in a family business is both a difficult and exhausting process. Luckily, state divorce law provides some general guidelines to assist in these matters.

Even though the parents or the judge originally believed that a custody order was appropriate for the children of the divorced couple, a change of circumstances may necessitate some changes to the custody agreement in place.