I was raised in a family that watched the evening news every night. That’s how we rolled in the 1970s and 1980s. I was fortunate to be able to ask questions, to seek answers, and I was encouraged to form my own opinions. This environment was the foundation for my vocation. I am a political … Continue reading Playing it Kind
Exiting the Salt Lake City International Airport, you are greeted with a welcome sign bearing our state’s slogan, “Life Elevated.” Seeing this sign after returning from the Mountain States Chapter meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) last weekend helped me focus on my main takeaway: elevating the practice of family law. The … Continue reading Family Law Elevated
When I ask clients consulting me about a divorce, "Are you sure?" their expressions range from perplexed to downright disgusted. They made an appointment to meet with me to talk about divorce options. I have just spent the better part of an hour hearing intimate details about their marriage and how they wound up here … Continue reading A Case Against Divorce
When I started writing my observations on law and life in 2018, I had just completed a self-study course on creating a personal brand after feeling a bit lost in how I wanted to develop and grow my law practice. The course helped me find a vision for who I was and wanted to be … Continue reading My Transformation to a Family Lawyer and Businesswoman.
I had a great professor in law school that was one of those rare creatures who was a brilliant academic mind but also a gifted teacher. Knowing she had an auditorium filled with young law students who were desperately seeking black and white answers, whenever a topic came up where the answer was not clearcut … Continue reading Estate Planning: No Hidden Costs and No Hiding My Fees
I am a little late to the game in reading the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante. Last night (more correctly early this morning), I was finishing the third book in the series of four, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay. The stories and characters are captivating and all the accolades Ferrante … Continue reading Children and Divorce: Reflections, Resources, and a Book Review
The weekly newsletter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) contains a professionalism tip and here is this week’s offering: Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates:"Is it true?" "Is it necessary?" "Is it kind?" This tip could well be the mantra of my practice style. I … Continue reading A Few Words on the Practice of Family Law
Proving they were way more awesome than I appreciated at the time or quite possibly because since I was the youngest by 11 years they were beyond giving a hoot, my parents introduced me to George Carlin at a very young age. To their credit, the Seven Words You Can Never Say on … Continue reading A Place for Your Stuff
I shared my article on LinkedIn a while back. It's worth repeating. A growing trend in family law is to represent oneself. Recent statistics in Utah reveal that the vast majority of domestic relations cases filed are those where one or both parties are not represented by counsel (“pro se” is the legalese we use … Continue reading My advice: get advice and do things right the first time.
Yes, I am a lawyer. And yes, I probably have already heard the joke you are about to tell. My musings in this blog are not legal advice to any man, woman, or child in any way, shape, or form. The same goes for animals, holograms, and imaginary friends. If you want legal advice, … Continue reading The Fine Print.
Amy Kennedy - Family Lawyer 