Understanding Your Options: 6 Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers in Utah
Utah divorce has rules most people don’t learn until they’re in the middle of it. There’s a 90-day wait after filing. Parents must take a divorce education course. Most contested cases go to mediation before a judge will hear them. The right lawyer knows how to work inside that system without wasting your time or money.
We scored Utah firms on five things: divorce and custody focus, attorney background, client reviews, service range, and how easy they are to reach. Carlson Legal Group in Draper earned the top spot as the best divorce and child custody firm in Utah for 2026. Founder Joey Carlson has practiced law in Utah for more than 12 years, and he went through his own divorce before building his firm. That view from the client’s chair shapes how he runs every case.
Five more firms round out the list. Each one fits a different need.
Utah Divorce and Custody Firms Compared
| Firm | Location | Best For | Key Strength | Case Types |
| Carlson Legal Group | Draper | High-conflict custody and plain-English guidance | Founder has lived through divorce himself | Divorce, custody, support, alimony, modifications, protective orders, prenups |
| Carr | Woodall | South Jordan | Divorces that may end up on appeal | Family law team plus appellate work | Divorce, custody, alimony, parenting plans, mediation, appeals |
| Ashley Wood Law, P.C. | Salt Lake City | Divorces with complex assets | Family law only, downtown SLC office | Divorce, custody, support, alimony, protective orders |
| Wall & Wall, P.C. | Salt Lake City (Fort Union) | Fathers seeking more parent-time | Trial lawyers with a fathers’ rights focus | Custody, fathers’ rights, divorce |
| Full Circle Family Law | Murray | Cases involving domestic violence | Lead attorney practicing since 2012 | Divorce, custody, property, domestic violence |
| Smoak Law, P.C. | Salt Lake City (downtown) | Clients who want a seasoned, peer-rated lead attorney | AV-rated founder with 25+ years in family law | Divorce, custody, alimony, adoption, prenups |
Firm-by-Firm Breakdown
1. Carlson Legal Group
Most divorce lawyers know the process from the outside. Joey Carlson knows it from both sides. After his own divorce, he built Carlson Legal Group around three lessons: people in crisis need clear answers, a lawyer they can reach, and a plan rooted in reality.
His practice centers on divorce and child custody, including contested, uncontested, and high-conflict cases. He also handles child support, alimony, post-decree modifications, protective orders, mediation, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Before focusing on family law, he spent years working in business and employment law, which helps when a divorce involves a company or complex income.
Carlson is a father of four and a third-generation native of Price in Carbon County. Parent-time plans at his firm get built around how each family lives day to day.
Strengths:
- Divorce and custody as the core of the practice
- Background in business and employment law
- Resolves cases through negotiation, mediation, or trial
- Plain-English updates so clients know where things stand
Trade-off: A boutique firm led by one attorney, so it takes on a limited number of cases.
Address: 11451 S 700 E, Draper, UT 84020 | Website: https://carlsonlegalgroup.com/
2. Carr | Woodall
Carr | Woodall is a South Jordan firm with several attorneys who work mainly or only in family law, including James H. Woodall and K. Bradley Carr. The team handles divorce, custody disputes, child support, alimony, parenting plans, and mediation. The firm also takes appeals, which matters when a trial ruling goes the wrong way and you need a second look.
Strengths: Family law depth plus appellate experience in the same office.
Trade-off: The firm also practices criminal defense, estate planning, and personal injury, and its office closes early on Fridays.
Website: https://www.carrwoodall.com/
3. Ashley Wood Law, P.C
Ashley Wood Law limits its practice to family law. The firm handles divorce, custody, child support, alimony, protective orders, and complex asset division. It also posts free Utah forms, FAQs, and a family law blog on its website, which helps clients prepare before the first meeting.
Strengths: A good match for divorces where retirement accounts, real estate, or business interests need careful division.
Trade-off: A smaller practice, so ask about attorney availability during busy trial seasons.
Address: 350 East 400 South, #262, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 | Phone: (801) 459-3499
4. Wall & Wall, P.C.
Wall & Wall describes itself as a team of Salt Lake City trial lawyers. On the family side, it focuses on child custody and fathers’ rights. Utah law starts from a presumption of joint legal custody, and this firm works to make sure dads get a fair shot at meaningful parent-time.
Strengths: Courtroom experience for custody cases that won’t settle.
Trade-off: The firm also handles personal injury, so family law shares the spotlight.
Address: 2168 Fort Union Blvd, Salt Lake City, UT 84121
5. Full Circle Family Law
Full Circle Family Law handles divorce, child custody, property division, and domestic violence. Attorney Tara Reilly earned her law degree from Gonzaga University in 2012 and focuses her work on family law. The Murray office sits close to I-15, an easy drive from most of Salt Lake County.
Strengths: A steady choice when safety concerns or protective orders are part of the case.
Trade-off: A small team, which can mean longer waits for new consultations.
Address: 141 E 5600 S #204, Murray, UT 84107
Website: https://fullcirclefamilylaw.com/
6. Smoak Law, P.C.
Smoak Law works from the 13th floor of a South Main Street tower, a short walk from the Matheson Courthouse. The firm’s family law attorneys bring more than 25 years of experience in divorce and related cases, and it runs as a personal-attention practice backed by a support team. Shareholder Emily Broadhead Smoak holds an AV rating, the top peer rating for lawyers, and handles divorce, alimony, and child custody alongside civil and criminal litigation.
Strengths: A peer-rated lead attorney who knows the property and prenup questions that drive many Utah divorces.
Address: 299 South Main Street, 13th Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 | Website: smoaklaw.com
How to Narrow It Down
Match the firm to your hardest issue. A custody fight needs trial skill. A business in the marriage needs financial know-how. A safety concern needs a lawyer who moves fast on protective orders. Ask each firm three questions: Who handles my case day to day? How do you bill? How many Utah custody cases have you taken to trial?
FAQ
How long does a divorce take in Utah?
Utah requires a 90-day waiting period after filing before a judge can finalize a divorce. Courts can waive it in rare cases. Uncontested divorces often wrap up shortly after the wait ends. Contested cases can take a year or more.
Do I have to go to mediation?
In most contested Utah divorces, yes. State law requires parties to try mediation before trial unless the court excuses it, such as in cases involving domestic violence.
At what age can a child choose a parent in Utah?
Judges give added weight to the wishes of a child 14 or older, but the child’s choice doesn’t decide the case. The court still rules based on the child’s best interests.
Can I move away with my child after divorce?
If you plan to move 150 miles or more from the other parent, Utah law requires 60 days’ written notice. The other parent can ask the court to review parent-time. Carlson Legal Group can help you plan a move or respond to one.
