It has been estimated by the Utah State Courts that around 70% of divorce cases in Utah have at least one party who is not represented by an attorney. There is speculation that many Utah divorces are difficult to afford possibly due to parties marrying and divorcing young.
Judges and commissioners have recently had to deal with slashes in budgets and are taking on more cases with less administrative help. Having litigants without representation bumbling their way through procedures is even more difficult to deal with as overworked judges want proceedings to be as efficient as possible.
Mediation might be the best option for divorces where parties are unable to afford hiring legal counsel. In addition to it being a requirement to finalize your divorce in Utah, it also costs much less than litigating in court.
You also actively negotiate the outcome and can make sure you walk away with an agreement you can live with. This can bring you much better results than having to live with the decree of a judge who is frustrated with you for not showing up with a lawyer or dismisses your arguments because they were not properly presented.
Contact a court-rostered Utah mediator to learn more about your mediation options.
