Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

I focus on a variety of family law issues: divorces, custody disputes, visitation, alimony. Also, I handle grandparent visitation and adoption cases. I have been maintaining an office in Bountiful, Utah since 2000. I am a member of the Utah State Bar Family Law Section. I provide individualized solution to clients' unique problems.

Abraham Bates is a foreclosure-defense attorney practicing in Utah. Based out of Salt Lake City, his practice covers the entire state of Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California, and he is the Managing Partner of a law firm with attorneys licensed in the states of Nevada, Arizona and California. Abe is a committed defender of the rights of homeowners and he strongly believes that homeownership - including having equity in your home - is fundamental to the fabric of democracy and American society.

As Managing Partner of Wasatch Advocates and Homeowner Legal Defense Advocates, Abe manages a team of over 30 attorneys, housing paralegals, forensic loan auditors, loan modification staff, and others who share his commitment to hold the Big Banks accountable for their unconscionable, predatory lending behavior - lending behavior that is directly responsible for the foreclosure crisis, economic depression and 10% unemployment rate that we as citizens and homeowners currently face. Many of the committed staff which Abe manages formerly worked for what he calls "the dark side," meaning employees of foreclosure service agents of the Big Banks and attorneys and mortgage lenders who made hundreds of millions of dollars of sub-prime loans before the collapse of the housing market. Now that these staff members have "seen the light" and recognize the problems with the lenders and servicers for whom they previously worked, they are incredibly useful tools to the Firm's foreclosure-defense practice given their intimate knowledge of the dirty tricks, deceptive practices, concealment, fraud and other bad acts perpetrated by the Big Banks (and the 400+ failed sub-prime lenders whose loans the Big Banks purchased with tax-payer (TARP) money) and the servicers who foreclose upon homeowners based on fraudulently executed (robo-signature) documents and false sworn testimony regarding possession of a homeowner's "wet-ink" mortgage promissory note.

Wasatch Advocates, the Utah-focused foreclosure-defense practice which Abe manages, has filed over 100 cases in the last six months in defense of the rights of homeowners in foreclosures. He has won numerous victories after evidentiary hearings and achieved settlements whereby homeowners get principal reductions and affordable fixed interest rates instead of the predatory sub-prime mortgages which they previously faced. For homeowners who want to move out of their homes, Abe has secured deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure, credit repair, and favorable short sale approval terms (along with credit repair), enabling the homeowner to walk away from their home without the consequences of a foreclosure. Abe is also spearheading an effort in the 2011 Utah legislative session to enact mandatory foreclosure-mediation laws which would requires the banks and securitized trusts to send a representative authorized to execute a loan modification, short sale approval, or deed-in-lieu, before any foreclosure of a home in Utah can occur. The local and national media frequently call on Abe for comment on MERS, the foreclosure crisis, and solutions to the national foreclosure crisis "Prof Says Banks Undermined the System (SLTRIB)."

Abe is also a long-time friend and colleague of Associate Dean Christopher Peterson at the University of Utah College of Law. Dean Peterson is the leading expert in the country on the issue of MERS and, while not formally associated as an attorney of the firm, provides valuable insight and assistance with Abe's efforts to defend homeowners facing foreclosure. Additionally, Dean Peterson serves as an Expert Witness on a number of the cases which Wasatch Advocates and Homeowner Legal Defense Advocates prosecutes in defense of homeowners facing foreclosure.

LITIGATION VICTORIES

Abe secured the first-ever ruling on the merits against the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. ("MERS") in Utah after an evidentiary hearing for a preliminary injunction within hours of the homeowner's foreclosure sale. Abe also secured the first-ever injunction in a foreclosure case awarded by Chief Judge Tena Campbell of the United States District Court in Utah against Provident Funding, based on Provident's negligent misrepresentations, bad faith and unfair dealing in servicing the homeowner's loan. Abe has also won a handful of "free and clear" (Quiet Title) judgments on behalf of homeowners, although this strategy is not a primary focus of Homeowner Legal Defense Advocate's efforts. Abe is currently involved in several state-wide class actions designed to bring down foreclosure-rescue scams, is involved in planning a national class-action lawsuit against MERS and the Big Banks, and is appealing two non-judicial foreclosure cases to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and to the Utah Supreme Court.

OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE

Abe is a strong believer that everybody should have access to an aggressive and empathetic foreclosure-defense attorney and has built Wasatch Advocates and Homeowner Legal Defense Advocates with a team of staff dedicated and committed to keeping clients updated on the status of their litigation while simultaneously making efforts to ease the anxiety and trauma that comes with the foreclosure process. He believes that you have a right to know exactly what is going on in your case, your available legal and non-legal remedies, your chances of success, and what it will cost you to prosecute your claims against the Big Banks. The Firm offers free consultations and advice as a matter of course, and provides documents at no charge which homeowners can use on their own to preserve their rights and prevent negative credit reporting prior to a foreclosure. Wasatch Advocates and Homeowner Defense Legal Advocates want to ensure that every homeowner understands the process, the timelines, the defenses available, and the legal and non-legal remedies a homeowner may take on their own, or with the assistance of a foreclosure-defense attorney, to stave off foreclosure.

EARLY CAREER

Prior to law school, Abe worked for two powerful and well-connected members of the United States House Of Representatives in Washington, D.C. Abe then returned to his home in Utah, where he worked as a chemical addiction counselor. Abe also helped start several high-technology companies in the mid- to late-1990s. Each of these experiences has enabled Abe to build Homeowner Defense Legal Advocates, a regional law firm committed to defending homeowners facing foreclosure in four out of the five "hardest hit" states in the country (Nevada, Arizona, California, and Utah), whether through driving legislative action, training his staff to empathize with homeowners who face the emotional and psychological trauma that is a natural consequence of the prospect of losing the family home, and by using the Internet to educate homeowners nationwide of their rights both and prior to foreclosure.

Attorney Ed Jones is an expert criminal defense attorney with a successful record exclusively in the area of criminal law. He is licensed to practice law in all of the State and Federal Courts of Utah and California, and the United States Supreme Court. He has handled a wide range of cases from high profile murder cases, to simple infractions. Put Ed Jones' expertise and success to work for you. He is a Powerful Defense Fueled by Experience!

Chris Salcido is a Utah licensed attorney and a founding Member of Salcido Law Firm PLLC.

Prior to founding Salcido Law Firm with his brother, Chris practiced complex commercial and civil litigation with a law firm in Salt Lake City, focusing his practice on the representation of injured victims in personal injury and medical malpractice suits. In recent years, Chris has been involved with some of the largest personal injury and medical malpractice verdicts in Utah.

Chris's past experience also includes the representation of large corporations as a corporate attorney. Chris has considerable experience and knowledge in the representation of ecommerce companies and start-ups. Since co-founding Salcido Law Firm, Chris has focused his practice to personal injury, criminal defense, bankruptcy, family law, and small business representation.

Chris is an experienced divorce and family law attorney. He has represented clients in difficult family law matters including custody disputes, complex divorces, and property divisions. Chris has developed unique and effective approaches to resolving family law matters for his clientâs and their families.

In addition to his legal practice, Chris has maintained a commitment to teaching legal and general education courses at colleges throughout Utah. Chris has taught college courses in American History; Philosophy; Logic & Critical Analysis; Humanities; Probate Administration & Estate Planning; and Evidence.

Chris is committed to giving back to the local community. Chris served as a member of the Utah Army National Guard for several years and is a decorated veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. Chris offers pro bono services to veterans on a case by case basis. Chris personally aspires to 100 hours of pro bono service a year. Chris also supports his alma maters by offering reduced fees to students and alumni of the University of Utah and Utah Valley University.

Utah Bankruptcy Attorney

Wendy graduated in the top 1/4 of her class from the University of San Diego School of Law. Wendy graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Business Management while being a devoted single parent and active community volunteer.

As a result of her passion for the personal aspects that family and elder law provide, she has chosen to focus her practice to only those two areas. As a result, Wendy is able to stay abreast of the latest developments in family and elder law and is able to be efficient and focused for her clients.

As a mother herself, Wendy understands the importance of balancing family life and the near and dear issues that are so often involved. She is empathetic to her client's family needs and therefore works to remain flexible to her client's schedule and available for their particular needs.My area of focus is primarily on all aspects of family law, including, but not limited to adoptions, foreign judgments, child support, alimony, divorce, custody, modifications, guardianships, parent time disputes, etc. I am experienced in representing client's in both mediation and litigation.I love the personal aspects of helping clients through the stressful events and challenges that family and elder law entail. I enjoy assisting clients in finding peace of mind vis-a-vis taking a mediative approach, yet am competent at resorting to litigation if necessary to find the best solution for my client's dilemma. I am assertive, but not arrogant. I am approachable and make myself available to clients. I am a proactive problem solver being amicable, yet keeping opposing counsel on their toes. I am efficient and mindful of the balance between effectively protecting a client's interests without taking unnecessary legal actions or fees.

Marco Brown currently owns and operates Brown Law, LLC, a firm that practices primarily in the areas of criminal defense and family law.

Before opening Brown Law, Marco graduated with distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law. He then was the judicial law clerk for six judges before practicing as a litigation associate for one of New Mexico's largest firms. While a litigation associate, Marco practiced in the fields of workers' compensation, employment law, insurance defense, and construction law.

These experiences have made Marco's transition to criminal law, family law, and constitutional law (his legal passions) seamless. He is fully committed to defending the rights of all his clients and obtaining the best resolution possible.

Jennifer Smock focuses on debtors' rights counseling. Bankruptcy can be an important tool that helps those overburdened with debt to get a fresh financial start. Bankruptcy can stop foreclosure on a house, eviction from a rental, prevent repossession of a car or other property, stop wage garnishment or debt collection harassment, aid in avoidance of liens, and prevent termination of utility services. Bankruptcy can also help reduce and eliminate high medical bills, provide help for large amounts of student loan debt, and challenge claims of fraudulent creditors.

Jen has handled hundreds of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings from all over the country. Working two years in the legal compliance department for a national auto finance company gave Jen specialized insight into bankruptcy from the creditors standpoint -- from Proof of Claim filing to contesting Discharge. Jen supports the right to file bankruptcy and the policies to ensure that the bankruptcy process works as intended - to provide debtors a new beginning. Whether you file for Liquidation (Chapter 7) or Reorganization (Chapter 13) you can feel confident with Jen on your side.

Jen balances her bankruptcy service practice with consumer law and general civil litigation. Her consumer law litigation practice includes representation in mortgage foreclosure defense, class actions, unfair debt collection, deceptive advertising, warranty fraud, auto-dealer fraud, truth-in-lending, predatory lending, payday lending, unfair credit reporting, identity theft, and tenant's rights. She also worked for Hanes & Associates, P.L.L.C., which focused on legal issues related to Construction Law, including mortgage and promissory note negotiation, lease agreements, and lien avoidance.

The Law Offices of Jason F. Barnes, P.C. are located in Utah, and provide a wide range of legal services.

We are highly focused in the area of:

- Mediation (Utah Court Rostered/Approved Mediator)

- Adoptions, all aspects.

- Family law & divorce, all aspects including:
> Annulment
> Paternity
> Guardianship's
> Custody
> Child support
> Visitation
> Alimony
> Property
> Military,
> Retirement division (government, military, and private retirements)
> Modifications to decrees.

- Business - formation, succession planning and transactions.

- Bankruptcy.


When you start the process, you will have many questions, some of which should only be answered by an attorney.

The Law Offices of Jason F. Barnes, P.C. provides a comfortable yet professional atmosphere, meeting personally with each client, promptly addressing questions and concerns, and striving to make the process as smooth and as stress-free as possible.

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MEDIATION (family law)-

-> If you are thinking about doing your own legal work, for example an online divorce, we encourage you to contact our office to see how we can help. Often we can help in the area of mediation, by bringing the parties together and helping them reach a mutual decision. If successful, the parties will save a lot of money and will be able to get a solution must faster than through litigation. We can also review documents for you that you have prepared or help you by preparing the documents for you.

FAMILY and DIVORCE LAW
Key Topics
- Adoption
- Spousal Support
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Visitation Rights
- Paternity
- Domestic Violence
- Marital Law
- Divorce
- Unmarried Couples
- Guardianships
- Premarital Agreements
- Alimony
- Annulment
- COAP
- Military
- Modifications to Decrees
- Prenuptial Agreement
- Property Division
- QDRO
- Retirement Division

ADOPTION SERVICES
Key Topics
- Open Adoption
- Closed Adoption
- Adoption Law
- Adult Adoption
- Agency Assisted Adoption
- Father
- Guardianships
- ICPC
- International Adoption
- Interstate Adoption
- Mother
- Private Adoption
- Special Needs Adoption
- Step-parent Adoption
- Surrogacy Agreements Area
- Domestic Adoption
- International Adoption

BUSINESS LAW
Key Topics
- Partnerships
- Incorporation
- LLCs
- Non-Competition Agreements
- Contracts

BANKRUPTCY
Key Topics
- Ch. 7 (fresh start)
- Ch. 13 (reorganization of debt)


HOURS:
- Monday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday closed
- Sunday closed

Lawyers who listen carefully to your personal injury case. Attorneys willing to stand up for your social security disability or worker's compensation claims. A law firm that protects your rights during bankruptcy. Call us...we are ready to listen.

Carol Mortensen brings over 10 years of counseling and advocacy experience into her legal practice. She has worked as a Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor and Social Service Worker for many years prior to joining the legal profession. As a result, Carol has a unique and comprehensive insight into the dynamics of individuals and families dealing with the judicial system.

Family & Juvenile Law Expertise:
Carol is a long time and committed advocate for individuals and families dealing with issues such as: divorce, custody and domestic violence. She has worked extensively with DCFS, Dependency Drug Court, Juvenile Drug Court and has worked with youth in Juvenile Delinquency proceedings.

Criminal Law Expertise:
Carol has advocated for clients in the Justice and District Courts and through Drug Court Programs for drug related charges, DUI / DWI, domestic violence, assault, probation / parole violations, theft and other property crimes.

Leonor has been practicing exclusively immigration law for over 15 years. She represents clients in immigration court, Citizenship & Immigration Services, the Board of Immigration Appeals and Federal Court.
Leonor has been an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) for over 15 years and has served as the Utah Chair and other executive positions. She is current the Chair of the AILA/Immigration Court Liaison Committee.

Diversified business lawyer with over 25 years of experience, including international, corporate, law firm, federal judicial clerkship and teaching background. Admitted in New York, Pennsylvania and Utah. Qualified with the U.S. Supreme Court and 10th Circuit. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

In private practice as sole practitioner for over thirty years with emphasis in bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation, including Chapters 7, 12, 13, and 11. Substantial experience in "difficult" bankruptcies. Referrals from other attorneys, including other bankruptcy practitioners, are frequent.

Born: Escondido, California, January 30, 1966.

Admitted to bar: 1994, Utah and U.S. District Court, District of Utah.

Education: Brigham Young University (B.A., in Economics, 1989; M.B.A., 1993; J.D., cum laude, 1993).

Author and Editor : Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law.

Co-Author: Books: How to Form a Corporation in any State, Advocate Publishers, 1990; The Complete Asset Protection Plan, Advocate Publishers, 1990. Co-Author, "Developing an Employee-Centered Electronic Monitoring System," Journal of Systems Management, August 1993. Author, "United States v. Halper: Making Double Jeopardy Available in Civil Actions," 6 Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law 551, 1992.

Activities: Part Time Faculty -- Brigham Young University; Utah State Bar (Member, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, 1999-2001; Ethics Advisory Opinion Committee, 2001—2009); Utah Trial Lawyers Association; The American Association for Justice; Board of Directors -- BYU Management Society.

Reported Cases: N.M. v. Safeco 2008 UT 1; McKeon v. Crump, 2002 UT App. 258; McKeon v. Crump, 2001 UT App. 175; State v. Villalobos, 2000 UT App. 354; State v. Kohl, 999 P.2d 7 (Utah 2000); Russ v. Woodside Homes, Inc., 905 P.2d 901 (Utah App. 1995).

Languages: French.

Prior to partnering with Carson Pearson, Jeff Butler worked as corporate in-house counsel for companies in Utah and California. He has experience with real estate law, mortgage law, business law, and healthcare law.

Mr. Butler grew up in Utah and California. He graduated from Brigham Young University where he graduated with University Honor Program. He attended the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University while also pursuing a master degree from the Romney Institute of Public Management. During law school, he externed for two federal judges, the Honorable Judge Benson and the Honorable Judge Green.

Mr. Butler is licensed to practice in the State of Utah and the State of California.

Stephen M Enderton, a graduate of the University of Denver Law School, founded Enderton & Mathews, LLC in April of 2004. Prior to this, Mr. Enderton was an associate attorney practicing primarily in the area of Bankruptcy Law. Mr. Enderton's career started in a general practice dealing in the areas of family law, criminal law and bankruptcy law. Mr. Enderton's primary concentration at Enderton & Mathews, LLC is devoted to bankruptcy law. Mr. Enderton has extensive courtroom experience as a litigator and has successfully argued before the appellate courts. Mr. Enderton is active in the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and as a member traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for legislation relating to "Helping Families Save Their Homes Act." Mr. Enderton also serves as a State Chair for the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. He has also been a member the American Bankruptcy Institute. Mr. Enderton has attended many national training sessions sponsored by the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Norton Institute on Bankruptcy Law. Mr. Enderton is also a member of the Bankruptcy section of the Utah State Bar.

Former Utah State Prosecutor, now representing exclusively personal injury clients throughout Utah.