What It Means When Your Parenting Rights Are Reserved

Question:

My divorce was finalized while I was out of state. I haven’t signed any paperwork and have yet to receive any paperwork.

I was told my parenting rights have been reserved. What does this mean and what can I do to change it?

Answer:

I am not licensed to practice law in your state. Therefore, I cannot inform you as to the specific laws of your state and can only provide you with general information concerning divorce.

When the court says that a specific issue has been reserved, that means that there is no final ruling on that issue. It is still open for a final determination.

So it sounds like that is a good thing for you. Your parenting rights are still open for discussion and potential litigation and a final decision was not made while you were out of state.

I would strongly advise you to be proactive in pursuing your case. You can go to the courthouse and get a copy of all documents in your case – so that you will know what happened while you were out of state.

Having never received documents will not help you in the future. Get those documents and see if there is anything in them that you need to try to change now.

Also, you likely need to be proactive to have the issue of your parenting rights revisited by the court. You may need to schedule mediation or a hearing, depending on what the court has ordered in relation to that part of your divorce.

Remember, I am unable to provide you with anything more than general divorce tips, so please consult a domestic litigation attorney in your area to obtain specific advice as to the laws in your state and how they impact your circumstances.

To arrange an initial consultation to discuss divorce rights for men with a Cordell & Cordell attorney, including Utah divorce lawyer Dena L. Morgan, contact Cordell & Cordell.