H.B. 555
FailedChanges to Family Law Actions
HB0555S01 (Substitute)
Changes to Family Law Actions
Introduction
Feb 12
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 23
House Floor Vote
Feb 26
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Mar 3
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 3
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
What This Bill Does
This bill amends provisions related to family law actions.
Key Provisions
This bill:
- addresses an award of fees and costs in a family law action; and
- makes technical and conforming changes.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
This bill reshapes when Utah courts must — versus may — award attorney fees and costs in family law cases involving divorce, custody, child support, alimony, and protective orders. Under the new rules, courts are required to make specific written findings about each party's ability to pay fees when considering temporary orders in custody or support disputes. When one party successfully enforces an existing family court order, the court must now award that party reasonable attorney fees — unless the losing party can show they are low-income or that the action wasn't brought in bad faith. For denied custody modification petitions, the court must order the losing party to pay the winner's fees only if the petition was both frivolous and brought to harass or burden the other party, raising the bar compared to the previous standard.
H.B. 555
FailedChanges to Family Law Actions
Current version: HB0555S01 (Substitute)
Introduction
Feb 12
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 23
House Floor Vote
Feb 26
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Mar 3
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 3
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
IntroductionFeb 12
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 23
House Floor VoteFeb 26
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeMar 3
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 3
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
What This Bill Does
This bill amends provisions related to family law actions.
Key Provisions
This bill:
- addresses an award of fees and costs in a family law action; and
- makes technical and conforming changes.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
This bill reshapes when Utah courts must — versus may — award attorney fees and costs in family law cases involving divorce, custody, child support, alimony, and protective orders. Under the new rules, courts are required to make specific written findings about each party's ability to pay fees when considering temporary orders in custody or support disputes. When one party successfully enforces an existing family court order, the court must now award that party reasonable attorney fees — unless the losing party can show they are low-income or that the action wasn't brought in bad faith. For denied custody modification petitions, the court must order the losing party to pay the winner's fees only if the petition was both frivolous and brought to harass or burden the other party, raising the bar compared to the previous standard.
Votes
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Documents
Floor Debates
Committee Hearings
Other Versions
Original
Subjects
Action History34
House/ filed
House file for bills not passed
House/ received from Senate
Clerk of the House
Senate/ to House
Clerk of the House
Senate/ strike enacting clause
Senate Secretary
Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
Senate Rules Committee
Last updated Mar 26, 2026, 9:42 PM
