Utah Family Law Attorney

Divorce is personal.
Your attorney should be too.

Most attorneys focus so much on court and finances that they back everybody into corners. Sierra Hansen starts by understanding the emotional reality of your case — then builds a strategy around that.

High-Conflict Divorce Custody & Child Protection Domestic Violence All of Utah
Sierra Hansen, Utah Family Law Attorney

"Divorce touches your home, your family, your livelihood. You deserve someone who treats it that way."

— Sierra Hansen, JD
Guardian Ad Litem Certified
U of U Law — Honors & Best Oralist
Board Chair, Children's Service Society
DA Major Crimes Financial Training
You're not alone

If you're reading this,
something has to change.

You didn't plan for this. Nobody does. But here you are — scared about your kids, unsure about your finances, possibly unsafe, and trying to figure out what comes next without making things worse.

The attorneys you've looked at all sound the same. Credentials, court victories, billable hours. None of them have said anything that made you feel like they actually understand what this is doing to your family.

Sierra is different. Her first question isn't about money or timelines. It's about what you're most afraid of — because that's where the real work begins.

  • You're worried about your children's safety and don't trust the court to see what you see
  • Your spouse controls the finances and you don't know what you have — or what's been hidden
  • You've experienced abuse and you're not sure the system will believe you
  • You've spoken to attorneys who talked over you and made you feel like a case number
  • You're afraid that one wrong move will cost you everything

The steps you take before you file can significantly shape your outcome. The earlier you get informed, the more options you have.

Why Sierra

Most attorneys fight in court.
Sierra prevents the fight.

Divorce touches everything — your home, your finances, your children, your livelihood. Most attorneys respond by focusing so much on court and finances that they back everybody into corners. That can make people more unsafe, and it shuts down any possibility of a real settlement.

Sierra looks at how to manage the situation before the court gets involved. She keeps every door open as long as possible. And she will never pressure you into a settlement you're not ready for — because the next day you'll have buyer's remorse, and you'll have to live with it.

Her edge: a rare combination of emotional intelligence and financial investigative skill — trained through the Salt Lake DA's Major Crimes Unit — that lets her see the whole picture when most attorneys only see the courtroom.

Sierra Hansen with her four daughters

"I know what is at stake. The happiness and safety of the people you love most — that is always the forefront of everything I do."

She listens before she talks
If your attorney talks more than you do, they'll talk you into a settlement you don't want at mediation — and the next day you'll have buyer's remorse. Each case is unique. Sierra's first job is to understand yours.
She keeps it out of court as long as possible
Even the two attorneys arguing a case can't predict what the judge is going to do. Sierra manages the timeline strategically — keeping doors open until you have everything you need to settle on your terms.
She knows how to prove what you're dealing with
High-conflict situations require more than your word. Sierra regularly gets court-ordered psychological evaluations, abuse assessments, and forensic financial analysis — the evidence that actually moves the needle.
She won't push you toward a deal that isn't right
A lot of attorneys just want to get paid and move on. Sierra won't look you in the eye and say "it's just not convenient for me that you're not comfortable" — and then tell you to sign.
Who Sierra Helps

If any of these sound like your situation — you're in the right place.

Sierra's practice is built around the clients most attorneys find too complicated — high-conflict, emotionally charged, with real stakes and children in the middle.

Parents in a high-conflict divorce
Your co-parent has a personality disorder, refuses to cooperate, or manipulates the process and the kids. You need someone who knows how to document it and legally act on it — not just file motions.
Personality disorders · Coercive control
Survivors of domestic violence
Safety comes before strategy. Sierra's first questions are always about where you are and whether you and your children are safe. A Protective Order can be filed the same day you decide to act — no police report required.
Protective orders · Safety planning
Parents fighting for their children
Courts don't automatically protect kids — they respond to evidence. Sierra knows what evaluations to request, what documentation matters, and how to present it so it actually lands with a commissioner.
Custody · Guardian ad litem
Complex financial situations
Hidden assets, business interests, alimony disputes. Sierra's investigative training means she knows where to look — and how to prove what she finds to a court that takes concealment very seriously.
Hidden assets · Property division
People who want this done right
You've heard the horror stories. You want someone who understands this is your home, your family, your livelihood — and who will fight like it is, without backing you into a corner you didn't choose.
Full representation · Mediation
Uncontested divorce filers
If you and your spouse genuinely agree on everything, Sierra's guided DIY petition tool walks you through every section of the filing — so you can handle it yourself without risking an error you can't undo.
DIY petition tool · Affordable
"Divorce is not like any other area of law. It's your home, your family, your livelihood — you don't hand that to a judge until you are really, truly prepared."
— Sierra Hansen, JD | Utah Family Law Attorney
Let's be honest

The reasons people wait —
and what Sierra would say

Most people who need help wait too long. Not because they don't want it — but because something gets in the way. Here's Sierra's honest response to all of it.

"I can't afford an attorney."
The first consultation is free — no commitment, no bill. For straightforward situations, the DIY petition tool is affordable. For contested cases: one bad agreement can cost you far more than legal fees ever would. Come talk first.
"I'm not ready yet."
You don't have to be ready to file. A consultation is just information. What you do in the weeks before you announce anything shapes everything that comes after. Waiting doesn't preserve your options — it costs them.
"Maybe it'll work itself out."
If there are children, financial complexity, or any history of control or abuse — the longer you wait, the more leverage the other party gains. Evidence becomes stale. Patterns get established. Courts see what's in front of them.
"I don't want to make things worse."
Getting informed doesn't make things worse. Making uninformed decisions does. A conversation with Sierra doesn't mean you're filing tomorrow. It means you understand your situation — and that is never the wrong move.
Be Prepared

What to do before you file

The clients who come to Sierra most prepared almost always get better outcomes. Here are the five most urgent steps — things you can do quietly, right now, while you still have full access.

  • Open a bank account in your name alone — before anything changes. You need somewhere you control completely, regardless of whether you work.
  • Download 12 months of bank statements for every account you can access — now, while you still can.
  • Move any cash from a safe to a bank account — once cash disappears, it is nearly impossible to prove it existed.
  • Start a dated journal today — written at the time of an incident, it is admissible in court as evidence and carries real legal weight.
  • Make copies of IDs, Social Security cards, and birth certificates — store them somewhere only you can access.
There are 6 more steps in the full guide — including what to do if you suspect hidden assets, how to protect your credit, and exactly what documents Sierra needs from day one.
Free Download

Get the complete
11-step checklist — free

Sierra's full Divorce Preparation Guide walks you through all 11 steps with her personal tips for each one. No fluff — just exactly what to do, why it matters, and what comes next.

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Your guide is on its way. While you wait — if you have questions, you can schedule a free call with Sierra directly below.

Sierra's note on hidden assets: "If a hidden account worth more than $1,000 surfaces after the divorce is final, I write it into every settlement: that account goes entirely to the spouse who didn't know about it. Not 50%. All of it. That clause alone has produced full disclosure at mediation more than once."

Common Questions

Questions Sierra hears every day

If you and your spouse genuinely agree on everything — custody, property, support, debt — Sierra's guided DIY petition tool may be all you need. But if there's any conflict, hidden assets, abuse, or children in dispute, one bad agreement can cost you far more than legal fees. The first consultation is free and will tell you clearly which path makes sense for your situation.
This is exactly where Sierra's background makes a difference. She regularly obtains court-ordered psychological evaluations — the other party cannot simply refuse a court order. She also has relationships with therapists who understand what the process actually requires, not just ones who check boxes and send kids back before anyone is ready.
Yes — and this is a recent, significant change. Utah's statute now explicitly requires courts to consider emotional abuse in custody decisions. Sierra has navigated these cases before and after the update. She knows exactly how to build a record that gives it real weight in front of a commissioner.
No. You do not need a police report to apply for a Protective Order in Utah. If a judge finds sufficient evidence of danger, a Temporary Protective Order can be issued the same day — without notifying your abuser first. Sierra can walk you through what to bring and what to expect.
Before anything else: open a bank account in your own name, download financial statements you have access to, and start a dated journal. Do this before you say anything to your spouse — while you still have full access. The window before anything is announced is the most valuable window you will have.
Moving out doesn't forfeit your property rights — but if you leave and your spouse stays with the children, courts notice that pattern. Talk to Sierra before you make that call. Exception: if you're in danger, leave first. Your safety comes before legal positioning and the rest can be addressed.
Sierra's goal is always to settle — because even experienced attorneys cannot predict what a judge will do. She'll give you an honest risk assessment before any hearing: best case, worst case, and whether trial is worth it. But if court is what it takes to protect your children, she's done it many times and she'll be ready.
Uncontested divorces can wrap in 60–90 days after Utah's mandatory 30-day wait. Contested divorces typically take 6–18 months. Sierra manages timing strategically — keeping the court patient while you build the strongest possible position. Rushing to court before you're prepared almost never ends well.
Credentials

The background that sets Sierra apart

JD
University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law — Honors Graduate
#1
Best Oralist — Traynor Moot Court Competition
GAL
Court-Approved Private Guardian Ad Litem — representing children directly
DA
SL District Attorney Major Crimes Unit — financial investigation training
AFCC Informed Member — recognized by Utah commissioners and family court judges
Board Chair, Children's Service Society — Utah's oldest nonprofit serving children
Utah State Bar Member in Good Standing — licensed in all Utah courts
Pro bono volunteer — Family Law and Eviction calendars
Access to Justice advocate — services for families at every income level
Ongoing AFCC education — child-focused family law practices
How We Work Together

Services built around your situation

01
Full Legal Representation
For contested divorce, high-conflict custody, domestic violence, and any situation where getting it wrong has consequences you can't undo. Sierra handles strategy, discovery, mediation, and trial.
Most comprehensive
02
Mediation Support
When both parties need a neutral path to agreement. Sierra conducts a full risk assessment with you first — best case, worst case — so you walk in knowing exactly where your line is and why.
Conflict resolution
03
DIY Guided Divorce Tool
For uncontested divorces where both parties agree. A guided petition builder with video instructions for every section — outputs a complete, court-ready 30-page filing without full legal fees.
Affordable option
Take the First Step

The first conversation
is free.

Sierra's first question isn't about your case file or your budget. It's about what you're most afraid of right now. From there, you'll leave with a clear picture of your options — what kind of representation makes sense, what the process looks like, and what to do next.

No commitment — a consultation is just information, not a contract
No jargon — Sierra talks to you like a person, not a docket number
No pressure — if full representation isn't the right fit, she'll tell you honestly
Confidential — everything you share stays between you and Sierra
Serving Salt Lake City, Utah County, Park City & all of Utah

You took the first step.

Sierra will be in touch within one business day. In the meantime — if you haven't already, download the free Divorce Preparation Guide above. It has 11 things you can start doing right now, quietly, before anything changes.

Free consultation — no commitment required