Getting Divorced

A petition for divorce may be brought if either spouse has been an actual and bona fide resident of the county where it is filed for at least 90 days before filing, or a member of the armed forces has been stationed in Utah under military orders for at least 90 days.

• The court may not enter a decree until 30 days after the petition is filed, unless it finds extraordinary circumstances, and may make interim orders before then.
• With a minor child, the petitioner attends the mandatory courses within 60 days after filing and the respondent within 30 days after being served.
• Until the moving party completes the courses, the court may not hear that party's motions, other than for a temporary restraining order.

• §Utah Code 81-4-402StatutePetition for divorce -- Divorce proceedings -- Temporary ordersOpens le.utah.gov ↗

The grounds include irreconcilable differences, adultery, willful desertion for more than one year, willful neglect to provide the necessaries of life, habitual drunkenness, a felony conviction, cruel treatment causing bodily injury or great mental distress, and living apart under a decree of separate maintenance for three consecutive years.

• §Utah Code 81-4-405StatuteGrounds for divorceOpens le.utah.gov ↗