Fathers’ Rights Attorney in Salt Lake City

Personal Advocacy for Fathers in Custody, Paternity & Support Matters

Fathers facing custody disputes, paternity questions, or support disagreements often feel the system is working against them before they’ve had their first hearing. I’m Emy Cordano, and I’ve spent over 20 years practicing Utah family law in Salt Lake City. Every case at my firm stays with me personally. From the first call through the final order, you’re working directly with lead counsel, not an associate who learned your name the morning of your hearing.

My practice covers child custody and parent-time, child support, paternity establishment, protective orders, and divorce. Whatever brings a father to my door, the approach is the same: your case gets my full attention, built around your specific goals and your family’s situation.

If you’re dealing with a custody, paternity, or support matter in Salt Lake City, don’t wait. Call my office at (801) 901-8159 to schedule a consultation.

What Fathers Can Expect Working With My Firm

When you call, you reach me. Your file doesn’t get handed to a paralegal or passed down to someone still learning the courtroom. I manage every detail personally, which means I know your case when it matters most. That familiarity isn’t a luxury. In family law, it’s the difference between a motion filed correctly and a mistake that costs you parent-time.

I’m known for aggressive, fearless advocacy that levels the playing field in contested matters. I’ve also experienced the weight of a legal challenge firsthand, which shapes how I listen and how hard I fight. That personal stake drives an intensity many firms don’t match.

I give honest feedback. If the court is unlikely to rule the way you’re hoping, I’ll tell you directly rather than let you spend money on a strategy that won’t hold. I won’t take a case unless I believe I can genuinely help. The Avvo Client’s Choice award I’ve received reflects that standard of service.

Strategy Built Around Your Family, Not a Template

No two custody situations are alike. A father in a high-conflict divorce navigates entirely different terrain than an unmarried father seeking to establish paternity and secure parent-time for the first time. My strategy reflects those differences. I build the approach around your specific goals, your family’s dynamics, and what the Third Judicial District Court is realistically likely to do.

When a workable agreement is within reach, I’m a skilled mediator who can help you get there without the time and expense of a full courtroom battle. When the other side won’t move, I litigate. I’m available around the clock for time-sensitive matters because family law crises don’t follow business hours. And I’m committed to fair fees: high-level advocacy shouldn’t come with a bill that forces you to choose between good representation and financial stability.

Utah Custody Law & Where Fathers Stand

Utah’s domestic relations statutes, recodified into Title 81 effective September 1, 2024, are gender-neutral. Courts can’t favor either parent based on sex. Custody decisions turn on the best interest of the child standard, a multi-factor analysis covering the child’s relationship with each parent, continuity of care, and related considerations. Utah law also distinguishes legal custody (decision-making authority over education, healthcare, and religious upbringing) from physical custody (where the child lives). Either form may be awarded jointly or solely depending on what serves the child’s best interest.

Where a father starts depends on whether he was married to the mother at the time of the child’s birth. A married father is automatically recognized as the legal father with full parental rights from day one. An unmarried father doesn’t hold automatic custody or parent-time rights. The mother has sole legal and physical custody by default until paternity is legally established or a court orders otherwise. That distinction is why acting quickly matters.

Fathers’ Rights Matters I Handle

My practice covers the full range of issues fathers bring to family court:

• Custody & parent-time disputes: Contested and uncontested divorce proceedings, initial custody orders, and enforcement of existing arrangements
• Child support: Calculation, modification, and disputes over support obligations
• Asset division & alimony: Complex property and spousal support negotiations, with access to financial experts when the picture calls for it
• Paternity: Legal recognition as a father, whether through declaration, administrative action, or a court-ordered parentage proceeding
• Protective orders: Defense against improper orders and assistance securing protection when warranted
• Relocation: Opposing or navigating a move that affects parent-time
• Post-decree modifications: Adjustments to custody, parent-time, and support when circumstances change

Ready to Discuss Your Case

I keep communication direct and consistent throughout every matter. You won’t be left wondering where your case stands or waiting days for a return call. From the first consultation through final resolution, you have my attention and a process that keeps things moving.

If you’re a father in Salt Lake City, Draper, Sandy, or West Jordan dealing with a custody, paternity, or support issue, Emy A. Cordano Attorney at Law can help. Call (801) 901-8159 to schedule your consultation.