Before you can finalize your divorce, you have to resolve key issues with your spouse. One of the most common points of contention between separating spouses is child custody. In Utah, both parties have Joint Legal Custody of their minor kids by default. If you are seeking custody of your children, understanding the key terms is important. Top law firms like Coil Law help clients reach a resolution that’s acceptable to both sides and is in the best interests of the child. Below is an overview of child custody in Utah. 

The basic pointers

As we mentioned, both parents have joint legal custody of their child as per Utah laws. You can come up with a parenting plan with your spouse, and both of you would be involved in co-parenting and make major decisions about their child’s life together. Since you have legal custody of your kids, you have a say in making decisions related to their religion, education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities. On the other hand, if you have physical custody of the kids, this means that they live with you, and because of the arrangement, you are more involved in the minor decisions. You will still have to cooperate with your spouse as per the parenting plan. 

More aspects worth knowing 

Child custody battles often get ugly because both parents want a 50-50 custody arrangement, which may not be viable or feasible in the long run. If you believe that your spouse should not share legal custody of your kids, you need a solid reason to argue that in court. For instance, if your spouse has a history of physical abuse or substance addiction, you can show evidence and keep sole custody of your kids. Physical Custody in Utah refers to the number of nights you can live with your minor kids every year. If you go for joint physical custody, you can have 111 overnights in a year. The parent with more overnights is the custodial parent. The primary caretaker is the parent who takes care of the kid and their day-to-day needs. 

If you want to be the primary caregiver of your child, you may have to work on your legal strategy. In most cases, it is the mother, but there are many aspects that matter. Talk to an attorney to understand how you can do the best for your child. You should consider hiring a lawyer before going into custody agreements or discussions with your spouse. 

A person driving under the influence of sleeping pills like Ambien and other pills is considered equal to driving under the influence of drugs. However, a wrong prescription or mislabeled drug can misguide a person and make them victims of a car accident. 

A person encountering a car accident due to drowsy driving after consuming a sleeping pill can hold the drug manufacturer or prescriber accountable for not explaining the guidelines or how the drug should be consumed. In such cases, the victim can hold them responsible for the accident and file a car accident lawsuit with the help of a car accident lawyer Cheyenne. 

What is a sleeping pill, and how does it affect driving skills? 

Sleeping pills are sedatives. When taken in higher doses, these behave as hypnotics. Moreover, sleeping pills are prescribed to patients dealing with sleep disorders like insomnia. When consumed in prescriber doses, it does not make a person fall asleep but gives a feeling of relaxation, and a victim feels drowsy. 

Consuming sleeping pills before driving a vehicle is considered impaired driving, as sleeping pills like Ambien affect the brain and the nervous system. The effect on the nervous system may slow down the reflexes and action time of a person under the influence of Ambien. It is the responsibility of a doctor prescribing a sleeping pill to ensure that their patients do not drive under the influence of the pill and consume no more than the prescribed dose. 

If a person consumes a sleeping pill and does not sleep or rest immediately or if they overdose on a sleeping pill, they might hallucinate or end up in a state of coma. All sleeping pills have similar effects on the body. Therefore, one must stay extremely careful when taking sleeping pills. 

How can a lawyer help in such cases? 

A car accident victim driving under the influence of an Ambien or other sleeping pills is held responsible for any injuries and damages caused to the opposite party. However, in some instances where the victim is unaware of the drug guidelines, they can get compensation for their damages with the help of a lawyer. Moreover, the settlement amount can also be altered with the help of a lawyer. They know how to negotiate with the insurance company of the opposite party. 

Crashing into someone while under the influence of sleeping pills can hold a person responsible for personal injuries as well as a criminal offense.