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Mountain State Attorneys

Utah family law

Family-law counsel to protect what matters now—and the life that follows.

Mountain State Attorneys provides steady Utah family-law counsel when decisions about children, home, finances, and safety require both care and a clear legal plan.

A comfortable place to begin

Let’s talk about what you need.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. A general idea of what’s happening is enough to start a conversation.

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Joshua R. Kotter
Joshua R. KotterFounder & managing partner · JD, MBAMeet the attorney
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. Your initial consultation is free, with no obligation to hire the firm.
Who will get back to me?
A firm attorney generally responds first, so you can begin with someone who understands legal questions.
How soon should I hear back?
Usually the same business day, during our office hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mountain Time. Response times can vary.
Can we speak by phone or Zoom?
Yes. Telephone and Zoom consultations are available, so you can speak with us without coming to the office.
When will I know the legal fees?
We explain legal fees before you hire our firm, so you can make an informed decision.
What should I have ready?
Just a brief overview and any urgent dates you know about. You don’t need a polished explanation. Save detailed sensitive information for your conversation with an attorney.

Clarity in a personal transition

A family case is legal, financial, and deeply human.

Family-law decisions are often made while the people involved are managing uncertainty at home, pressure around children, and concern about finances. Clear counsel helps separate urgent problems from longer-term choices so that one difficult moment does not control the entire case.

Mountain State Attorneys approaches family matters with a practical question: what arrangement can protect the client's rights and work in real life after the case is over? That requires attention to facts, court procedures, family dynamics, property, income, and the details of day-to-day parenting.

Some matters can be resolved through focused negotiation or mediation. Others require temporary orders, careful discovery, expert input, or trial. We work to pursue proportionate solutions without sacrificing preparation when the issues remain contested.

Family matters

Guidance for the decisions that shape daily life.

The legal issues are connected. Parenting arrangements can affect work; property decisions can affect housing; and temporary choices can influence what follows.

01

Divorce & legal separation

Counsel through the procedural, financial, parenting, and practical decisions involved in ending or restructuring a marriage.

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02

Child custody & parent-time

Development of parenting arrangements focused on legal standards, the child's needs, family circumstances, and workable schedules.

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03

Child & spousal support

Analysis of income, expenses, applicable calculations, disputed financial information, and the practical effect of support decisions.

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04

Property & debt division

Identification, characterization, valuation, and allocation of homes, businesses, retirement interests, personal property, and liabilities.

05

Modifications & enforcement

Counsel when circumstances change or an existing custody, parent-time, support, or property obligation is not being followed.

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06

Paternity & unmarried parents

Establishing parentage and addressing custody, parent-time, decision-making, and support outside a divorce proceeding.

07

Protective & urgent matters

Focused guidance when safety, access to children, property, or other time-sensitive concerns require prompt legal attention.

08

Family planning agreements

Prenuptial, postnuptial, adoption, and guardianship matters designed to clarify rights, responsibilities, or family relationships.

A path through the transition

Resolve the legal case without losing sight of real life.

The goal is not simply to reach an order. It is to make informed decisions about the family, finances, and future the order will govern.

  1. 01

    Stabilize urgent issues

    Identify immediate concerns involving safety, children, housing, finances, property, communications, and temporary arrangements.

  2. 02

    Define priorities

    Separate essential objectives from negotiable preferences and understand the facts, documents, and legal standards that affect each issue.

  3. 03

    Build workable options

    Develop parenting, support, and property proposals; exchange necessary information; and use negotiation or mediation where productive.

  4. 04

    Secure a durable resolution

    Present contested issues when court involvement is needed and pursue clear final terms that can be understood and implemented.

Family law questions

Start with the decisions closest to home.

These answers provide general information. Advice for a particular matter depends on its facts, timing, and governing law.

What should I gather before a family-law consultation?

A concise timeline and the most relevant documents are helpful: existing court orders, recent financial information, property and debt records, important communications, and a proposed parenting schedule if children are involved.

Can a divorce or custody case be settled without trial?

Yes. Many cases resolve through direct negotiation or mediation. Settlement is most useful when the terms are informed, complete, realistic, and protective of the issues that matter; unresolved issues can still be presented to the court.

How are custody and parent-time decisions approached?

The analysis is fact-specific and centered on the governing legal standards and the child's interests. Daily care, relationships, safety, communication, schedules, distance, and each family's circumstances may all matter.

How are property and debts handled?

The first steps are identifying the assets and obligations, understanding how and when they were acquired, gathering reliable values, and evaluating a division that accounts for both legal principles and practical consequences.

Can an existing family-court order be changed?

Some orders may be modified when the required legal and factual circumstances are present. The original order, subsequent changes, timing, evidence, and the particular relief requested should be reviewed before filing.

What if there is an immediate safety concern?

Seek appropriate emergency assistance when someone is in immediate danger. Legal counsel can then help assess protective orders, temporary court relief, evidence preservation, and how related criminal or family proceedings may interact.

Authority and maintenance

Reviewed, sourced, and kept current.

This page provides general information. The authorities that control a particular matter depend on its facts, date, forum, and jurisdiction.

Attorney review
Joshua R. Kotter
Last reviewed
September 4, 2026
Next scheduled review
December 4, 2026, or sooner if controlling law changes
Jurisdictional scope
Utah

Start with a confidential conversation

Make the next family decision with a clear legal plan.

Tell us what is changing, what needs immediate attention, and what you want life to look like after the case. We will help you understand the available path.

Begin confidential intake Call or text (801) 770-4323