Hiring a Divorce or Family Lawyer in Utah
How divorce lawyers in Utah charge, the state's filing rules, how to check a lawyer's license, and free or low-cost family law help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Utah: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Utah Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c) (Supreme Court Rules of Professional Practice, Rule 3-1.5), a contingent fee agreement must be in a writing signed by the client stating how the fee is determined, including the percentage(s) for settlement, trial or appeal; litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery; and whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated. It must clearly notify the client of expenses owed whether or not the client prevails, and at the end the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the remittance and how it was determined. Rule 1.5(d) bars fees in domestic relations matters contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, and contingent fees for defending a criminal case. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Utah State Bar's Fee Dispute Resolution Program handles fee disputes between clients and attorneys practicing in Utah, by mediation or binding arbitration. Participation is voluntary; the bar cannot force either side into binding arbitration, and both attorney and client must sign the petition. Binding arbitration has a $10.00 filing fee, and the decision is final except on narrow grounds. Disputes under $10,000 are heard by one lawyer, though for amounts between $7,500 and $10,000 the petitioner may choose a three-member panel. Mail the notarized Fee Dispute Petition Form and Agreement Form, marked "personal and confidential," to Utah State Bar Fee Dispute, 645 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111; questions: feearbitration@utahbar.org. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The Utah State Bar's Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection reimburses losses caused by the dishonest conduct of lawyers and licensed paralegal practitioners licensed in Utah, arising from a lawyer-client, LPP-client or fiduciary relationship. Assigned claims, third-party claims and certain Ponzi or pyramid-scheme investment losses are excluded. File within one year after the date of the final order of discipline, the lawyer's death, or the order of disability; procedures and the claim form are in Rule 4-911. |
Utah rules to know first
| Residency requirement | You or your spouse must have been an actual and bona fide resident of the county where you file for at least 90 days before filing. A member of the U.S. armed forces stationed in Utah under military orders for at least 90 days may also file, and there is an option when both spouses consent to Utah jurisdiction. If you need a custody order, the child usually must have lived in Utah with a parent for at least 6 months before filing, with exceptions. The Utah Courts page describes the county requirement as living in a single Utah county for 3 months or more right before filing. |
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| Filing fee | The district court filing fee for a petition for divorce or separate maintenance is $350 (fee schedule effective May 6, 2026). The fee for a respondent's answer or counter-petition in a divorce or separate maintenance case is $130, and a motion for a temporary separation order is $35. Other costs can include service fees, the vital records fee and the required classes. If you cannot afford the fees, you can ask the judge to waive them. |
| Uncontested divorce | Utah has no separate summary divorce, but if the spouses agree on everything they can file a stipulated divorce using the courts' free MyPaperwork online interview. If the respondent signs an Acceptance of Service, Appearance, Consent and Waiver form, or does not answer by the deadline, the petitioner can ask for a default judgment. The 30-day waiting period and, for parents of minor children, the required classes still apply. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Utah State Bar's Get Legal Help page points the public to LicensedLawyer, to learn about licensed Utah lawyers in good standing, and to the Utah State Bar's Modest Means Lawyer Referral Program for reduced-rate help (income qualification required). Source: Utah State Bar, Get Legal Help |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | Utah's Office of Professional Conduct points the public to the Utah State Bar's Licensed Lawyer website (licensedlawyer.org) to look up Utah lawyers; its online complaint form also includes a Search Attorney Database tool. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | The Utah Office of Professional Conduct (OPC), charged by the Utah Supreme Court with investigating possible grounds for discipline of lawyers and licensed paralegal practitioners, is no longer part of the Utah State Bar. File a complaint with the OPC's online form, or print the fillable form and mail it. An OPC attorney reviews it and investigates if it suggests rule violations; typical timelines for cases not dismissed are about 150 days for initial investigation, 120 days for follow-up, and 90 days for the screening panel. The information you provide is shared with the lawyer; anonymous complaints and complaints against a whole firm are not accepted, and a filed complaint cannot be withdrawn. The process does not provide reimbursement. Public discipline can be searched in the OPC's Attorney Public Discipline list. Public discipline: https://www.opcutah.org/lawyer-public-discipline/ |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | The Utah State Courts' Self-Help Center provides free legal help to people without a lawyer: staff attorneys answer questions about the law, court process and options, help with court forms, and give information about legal aid, pro bono and low-cost services and lawyer referral (they cannot give legal advice or represent you). Contact it by email at selfhelp@utcourts.gov or the toll-free help line 888-683-0009 (Monday-Friday, 11:00 am-5:00 pm). Utah Legal Services provides civil legal aid without cost to people who cannot afford a lawyer (apply online), and LSC lists it as its Utah grantee. Utah Legal Services: https://www.utahlegalservices.org/; LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Utah · Do I need a lawyer?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.