Domestic Relations
Divorce, Custody, and Guardianship
Domestic Relation Services
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Our Domestic Relation office is located in the Community Legal Center (CLC) who is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of our staff, clients, and applicants across all organizations, including Legal Aid. Please note public computers are not available at the CLC at this time. Members of the public must have an appointment to enter the CLC building. Click here for an info graphic on the CLC's procedures.
Legal Aid Society provides full legal representation for income eligible clients, regardless of legal status, in divorce, custody (parentage), modifying final court orders in limited circumstances, common law divorce (seeking judicial recognition of a relationship as a marriage), and guardianship cases for minor children.
We handle cases which are filed or can be filed in Salt Lake County. If you case is already filed in a different county we would only be able to represent you AFTER the case is transferred to Salt Lake County.
Domestic Relations applicants must be income and asset eligible. Victims of domestic violence and sexual assault have broader income eligibility requirements as part of our Bridge The Gap Program.
"Begin Application Process" will take you to our sister site where you can complete an Eligibility Form.
Application Process
Eligibility Form
1
Application for Services
2
Documents
3
1
Eligibility Form
Applicants must complete an Eligibility Form. The Eligibility Form enables us to determine if there is a legal conflict of interest, and verify preliminarily if you are income-eligible (full consideration of income eligibility comes after you submit your financial documentation as required in our application). Generally, a legal conflict exists if Legal Aid has represented the other party in the past OR that you have been an opposing party in a Legal Aid case. The Online Eligibility Form will give you an Application Number which you can use to log in to the Check Status Page.
2
Application for Services
If no conflict exists, you will find a link to the Application for Services on your Check Status Page. The Application for Services gathers information on your case and your requests for items like custody and parent time (when applicable). Legal Aid will only represent you if your requests are reasonable.
Applicants have 10 days to complete the Application for Services. This is to ensure you have time to complete the last step and comply with all court filing requirements.
A senior Legal Aid attorney will review your application and determine if Legal Aid will accept your case, this could include a consideration of the legal matter, jurisdiction, income, and other considerations.
3
Documents
If your Application for Services is accepted, your Check Status Page will provide a list of all documents we must receive from you before your case is assigned.
Applicants have 10 days after being accepted to provide all required documents. Again, this is to ensure your case complies with all court filing requirements.
Checking Your Application Status
Check Status Page
Applicants can now get the most up-to-date information and instructions by logging into their Check Status Page. If you have questions about your Check Status Page, you can contact the Intake Coordinator.
Eligibility
Jurisdiction
Legal Aid can assist with cases that have been filed, or can be filed, in Salt Lake County. Generally, that means that at least one of the parties must live in Salt Lake County. For a divorce case, one of the spouses must live in Salt Lake County for at least three months.
To modify final orders entered by a court outside of Salt Lake County, at least one person must currently live in Salt Lake County and the other person can no longer live in the place where the original order was entered.
Utah Cases Outside of Salt Lake County
If your case cannot be filed in Salt Lake County but can be filed within the state of Utah, contact Utah Legal Services for non-profit services or the Utah State Bar to find a private attorney.
Bridge The Gap Program for Victims of Domestic Violence
In cases involving domestic violence or sexual assault, applicants can receive a Bridge The Gap Referral Form from members of our Domestic Violence team as part of a protective order intake meeting, and other approved domestic violence professionals in the community. Note that your case will be screened for BTG eligibility regardless of whether or not a Referral Form is attached.
What if Legal Aid Society Cannot Help Me?
If Legal Aid cannot assist you or you want to represent yourself, you can go to one of the Family Law Pro Se Clinics or contact the court's Self Help Center to obtain legal forms and information to represent yourself. Information about the Self Help Center and legal forms are on the court's website at www.utcourts.gov.
Getting Help With Your Application
Get Organized
You can get a jump-start on your application by collecting the required documents. Please note some agencies might charge you for copies. It is reasonable to wait until you are approved by Legal Aid before you pay for any documents. Your case might require some or all of the Required Documents for Application.
Note that most of the documents are required by statute and the Court, not necessarily by Legal Aid.
Get Help
Much of the information required on the application will be known only to the applicant, and our staff will unfortunately not be able to assist you in gathering the personal information and documents required. Our staff can, however, check your application for completeness before you submit it to our intake coordinator. If you need help with your application, you can schedule a time with our Intake Coordinator.
Getting Started
You can start the process online by completing and sending in your Eligibility Form. We have a public computer at our office in the Matheson Courthouse (450 South State St) for applicants with no computer access. We can also provide you with a paper copy of the Eligibility Form upon request.