Essential Guidance: Divorce Education Classes in Utah
Navigating a divorce can be daunting, especially with children involved. Divorce education classes in St. George, Utah, offer crucial guidance. These classes, required for parents with minor children, help ease the transition.
Understanding who should attend and the benefits these classes offer is essential. Parents gain insights into managing conflict and supporting their children’s emotional needs.
These classes are a vital resource for anyone looking to minimize the impact of divorce on their family. Attending these classes can pave the way for a healthier, more cooperative co-parenting relationship, ensuring a stable environment for children during a challenging time.
Quick Summary
Below is an overview of the key points of this blog article.
- Parents with minor children going through divorce or separation in Utah must attend two mandatory classes: an orientation and an education course. These classes provide information on common divorce issues, alternative options, and support available during and after divorce. Completion certificates are required for the court to finalize the divorce.
- The first course, Divorce Orientation, covers divorce processes, post-divorce life, alternatives to divorce, and post-divorce support. The second course, Divorce Education, focuses on understanding children’s reactions to divorce, ways to support them, and effective communication. Unmarried parents in custody or visitation cases may also be required to take these courses.
- The classes are concise, with the Orientation Course lasting one hour and the Educational Course lasting two hours. Both courses can be taken on the same day. In-person sessions are available on various days and times, and reservations are not required. Completing both courses promptly is essential, with deadlines of 60 days for the petitioner and 30 days for the respondent.
- If a spouse refuses to take the required courses, the court may waive the requirement, but the non-complying spouse may lose certain rights in the divorce process. Utah also offers a free class for children aged 9 to 12 to help them communicate better with their parents during divorce.
Who Should Take Divorce Education Classes in Utah?
In Utah, parents with young kids going through a divorce or temporary separation must take two classes: an orientation and an education course. These classes are mandatory only for parents with minor children. Unmarried parents in custody or visitation cases might also need to attend.
The court won’t finalize the divorce until both parents finish both courses and give the court their completion certificates.
What Can I Expect From Divorce Education Classes?
Spouses getting divorced with young kids must attend 2 parenting classes and give the court a completion certificate. Without it, the court won’t look at any requests related to the divorce or temporary separation. Here’s some info to help parents meet the state’s course requirements during divorce.
Course 1 (Divorce Orientation)
This course teaches parents going through a divorce about common divorce issues, other options besides divorce, and the help available during and after divorce. Here are some topics covered in the course:
- The steps of getting a divorce and what you can do
- What happens after a divorce
- Other choices instead of getting a divorce
- Ways to work on your marriage and solve support and custody issues without divorcing
- Help available after a divorce
The person who starts the divorce case must finish the Divorce Orientation course within 60 days of filing the petition. The other party, known as the respondent, must complete the course within 30 days of being served with the divorce petition.
Course 2 (Divorce Education)
The course helps parents understand what their kids go through during divorce. It looks at how kids of different ages react to their parents getting divorced. The goal of the course is to assist parents in helping their children adapt to these tough changes. Some topics covered in the course include:
- Feelings people often have when going through a tough time
- How kids feel and cope with divorce at different ages
- Ways parents can support their kids as they grow up
- Talking to kids about divorce in a good way
- How stress affects kids and ways to reduce it by having less arguments between parents
- Working together after divorce and sharing parenting duties
- Helping kids feel good about themselves and express their feelings
- Money and legal parts of divorce
Unmarried parents in custody or visitation cases are often asked to take this educational course to understand their children’s needs better.
How Long Are the Divorce Education Classes in St. George, Utah?
The divorce education classes in St. George, Utah are short, and both classes can be taken on the same day. The Orientation Course, which comes first, lasts one hour. The Educational Course is two hours long and can be taken right after the first one. In-person sessions are available on various days and times.
You can check the schedule for the upcoming months on the Utah State Court’s website. It’s important to complete both courses quickly. The person who files for divorce must do this within 60 days, and the other party must do so within 30 days after being served with the papers.
Where Can I Attend the Divorce Education Classes in Utah?
You can attend the courses at any location near you, regardless of where you filed for separation or divorce. Check the Utah State Court’s website for more locations, dates, and times. Reservations are not needed, but it’s a good idea to arrive at least 15 minutes early for registration. Latecomers won’t be allowed in.
Bring your case number and request an interpreter if needed. You can bring a support person, but not children. Disruptive or intoxicated individuals won’t be admitted. Both Orientation and Educational courses can be done online, but there’s no discount for online completion.
What If My Spouse Refuses to Take the Utah Divorce Courses?
If your spouse won’t take the courses and is stopping the Utah divorce process, you can ask the court to waive the courses for your spouse by filing the right Motion. If the court agrees, it will usually take away the non-complying spouse’s right to ask the court for help.
This means if the complying spouse refuses to let the non-complying spouse see the children, the non-complying spouse can’t ask the court for help until they take the courses.
Is Divorce Education Available for Children in Utah?
Utah has a class for kids aged 9 to 12 whose parents are getting divorced. It’s free and taught by a mental health expert who knows how to help kids in this situation. The class teaches kids to talk better with their parents while they’re getting divorced. The hope is that this will make the divorce easier for the kids.
Advocating for Your Best Interests in Divorce
If you’re facing the challenging prospect of divorce in Utah, Boyack Christiansen Legal Solutions is here to guide you through the process with compassion and dedication. Our trusted family lawyers understand the emotional strain and legal complexities involved in divorce proceedings, and we’re dedicated to providing you with the support and representation you need to navigate this difficult time.
At Boyack Christiansen Legal Solutions, we believe that everyone going through a divorce in Utah can benefit from taking divorce education classes. These classes can help you understand the legal and emotional aspects of divorce, and they may be required by the court. Our St. George family attorneys can help you determine if you need to take these classes and can provide you with resources to fulfill this requirement.
Trust Boyack Christiansen Legal Solutions to stand by your side and advocate for your best interests throughout the divorce process. Our law firm can also represent you in Estate Planning and Criminal Defense.
