Utah has a very high number of divorce cases where parties are not represented. Looking at the statistics provides some insights into this phenomenon.
The State of Utah has just as many divorces as the rest of the United States of America. The rate of divorce in Utah is around 0.43% of the entire population, and is slightly more than the national rate of 0.41%. In Utah, the average for a first divorce is 31 for males and 29 for females.
According to statistics from 2000, in Utah over ten thousand children were affected by a divorce that year. This number has since increased significantly.
According to a study of statistics by Utah State University on the most recent information available, nearly half of the divorces in Utah happen during the first five years of marriage. Nearly 1/5 of divorces in Utah happen before the couple make it to their first wedding anniversary.
A possible reason for Utah's high rate of self-representation might be that with the brief length of marriage before divorcing and couples getting married at a young age, the parties haven't had much time or chance to earn high wages and are unable to afford a lawyer. Another factor may be the high rate of divorce cases involving child custody issues which costs more and makes the case more expensive.
Recently, the Utah courts have been trying to calculate the number of divorce cases that have at least one party unrepresented by a lawyer. At lawyer continuing education classes, representatives from the Utah court system have estimated that 70% of Utah divorces involve at least one participant who will not have an attorney. Lawyers have been asked by Judges to find a way to provide assistance to parties who are planning on going to court without a lawyer.
As a result of budget cuts within the Utah court system, Judges and Commissioners are handling an increased number of cases with less administrative aid and they are losing their patience with pro se litigants (parties without representation), who don't have any idea of appropriate procedure or argument.
Several firms in Utah are responding by providing pay-as-you-go services for pro se litigants that cannot afford a full retainer or by giving free consultations. Some local law firms, like Long Okura, are providing both options. Self-represented parties ought to think about obtaining help before showing up in court without representation. - 31397
The State of Utah has just as many divorces as the rest of the United States of America. The rate of divorce in Utah is around 0.43% of the entire population, and is slightly more than the national rate of 0.41%. In Utah, the average for a first divorce is 31 for males and 29 for females.
According to statistics from 2000, in Utah over ten thousand children were affected by a divorce that year. This number has since increased significantly.
According to a study of statistics by Utah State University on the most recent information available, nearly half of the divorces in Utah happen during the first five years of marriage. Nearly 1/5 of divorces in Utah happen before the couple make it to their first wedding anniversary.
A possible reason for Utah's high rate of self-representation might be that with the brief length of marriage before divorcing and couples getting married at a young age, the parties haven't had much time or chance to earn high wages and are unable to afford a lawyer. Another factor may be the high rate of divorce cases involving child custody issues which costs more and makes the case more expensive.
Recently, the Utah courts have been trying to calculate the number of divorce cases that have at least one party unrepresented by a lawyer. At lawyer continuing education classes, representatives from the Utah court system have estimated that 70% of Utah divorces involve at least one participant who will not have an attorney. Lawyers have been asked by Judges to find a way to provide assistance to parties who are planning on going to court without a lawyer.
As a result of budget cuts within the Utah court system, Judges and Commissioners are handling an increased number of cases with less administrative aid and they are losing their patience with pro se litigants (parties without representation), who don't have any idea of appropriate procedure or argument.
Several firms in Utah are responding by providing pay-as-you-go services for pro se litigants that cannot afford a full retainer or by giving free consultations. Some local law firms, like Long Okura, are providing both options. Self-represented parties ought to think about obtaining help before showing up in court without representation. - 31397
