Child Custody, Support & Parentage

Protecting the Best Interests of Your Children

For parents, custody and support are almost always the most critical aspects of any family law issue. Decisions made today regarding parent-time and decision-making authority will shape your children's development and your relationship with them for years to come. At Canyons Law Group, we advocate for practical, child-centered co-parenting agreements that protect your parental rights and minimize emotional distress for your children.

We guide clients through the entire process, including initial custody filings, child support calculations, parentage actions for unmarried parents, and post-decree modifications when family circumstances change.

Custody & Support Practice Areas

We provide comprehensive representation in all aspects of parental rights and financial obligations:

• Legal & Physical Custody: Advising on the difference between Legal Custody (decision-making authority regarding education, medical care, and religion) and Physical Custody (where the child resides).
• Parent-Time Schedules: Crafting customized schedules that match your work life and child's school needs, including standard joint custody or sole physical custody schedules under Utah code.
• Parentage & Paternity Actions: Assisting unmarried parents in establishing legal fatherhood, custody parameters, visitation schedules, and formal support obligations.
• Child Support Calculations: Estimating support amounts using Utah's state guidelines, which are based on both parents' incomes and the division of overnight visits.
• Decree Modifications: Petitioning to modify existing court orders when a substantial, material change in circumstances occurs (e.g., job loss, relocation, or safety concerns).

What is a Parentage (Paternity) Action?

When a child is born to unmarried parents in Utah, the biological father does not automatically have legal rights to custody or parent-time, even if his name is on the birth certificate. A **Parentage Action** is a legal court proceeding used to:

• Formally establish legal paternity.
• Establish legal and physical custody.
• Define a binding parent-time schedule so both parents have clear, protected time with the child.
• Establish fair child support and share out of-pocket medical and childcare costs.

Establishing these parameters early prevents future disputes and provides the child with legal and financial stability.