Attorney Dossier · Salt Lake City · November 2026
Five Salt Lake City family law firms that handle child support, checked on the bar record, the office, the fees and the reviews.
Utah changes a support order only when the new amount clears a 15% or 10% gap, and a change reaches back no further than the date the other parent is served. That makes the first call, and knowing what it costs, worth getting right.
1 of 5
firms here publish a consultation price
15% or 10%
gap Utah requires before it will change a support order
$0
what an ORS review or the courts’ Self-Help Center costs
Smoak Law, P.C. is listed first on this page. The order of the other four is not a ranking. Every fact below was checked against the source named beside it in November 2026.
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The scorecard: 5 checks, 5 firms
✓ meets the check ◐ partly or self-reported ✗ does not, or not published
Smoak Law, P.C.Parents changing an existing order who want one senior lawyer handling the case personally downtown
Downtown SLC office
✓299 S MainBar record checked
✓Active, 2004Child support page
✓Modification pageFee terms published
✗Not publishedGoogle rating checked
✓4.4 / 13 Law Office of David Pedrazas, PLLCParents chasing unpaid support or facing a contested change who want a long-practicing litigator
Downtown SLC office
✗East side, 84124Bar record checked
✓Active, 1998Child support page
✓Four pagesFee terms published
◐Hourly, no rateGoogle rating checked
✓4.9 / 237 Christensen LawSupport disputes likely to reach trial or appeal, handled by a two-lawyer downtown team
Downtown SLC office
✓225 S 200 EBar record checked
✓Active, 1992Child support page
✓Support pageFee terms published
✗Not publishedGoogle rating checked
✓4.3 / 97 Hanks & Peterson Law PLLCCases where one parent may be hiding or underreporting income, with a larger bench to draw on
Downtown SLC office
✓8 E BroadwayBar record checked
✓Active, 2006Child support page
◐Shared with alimonyFee terms published
✗Not publishedGoogle rating checked
✓4.2 / 53 Read Law, LLCParents who want a fixed-price first conversation and to test the numbers before hiring
Downtown SLC office
✗East side, 84109Bar record checked
✓Active, 2010Child support page
✓Support and modificationFee terms published
✓$100 to $300 consultsGoogle rating checked
✓4.2 / 25 02
Before you hire: what the numbers mean for a Salt Lake City parent
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1 of 5: firms here publish a consultation price
Read Law lists a $100 thirty-minute phone consultation and $265 or $300 for an hour on Zoom with David Read. The Law Office of David Pedrazas says it bills by the hour but prints no rate. The other three quote after a call. The court charges $100 to file a petition to modify, and the fee can be waived.
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15% or 10%: gap Utah requires before it will change a support order
An order less than three years old needs a material change, such as a 30% income shift, plus a 15% gap from the guideline amount. After three years a 10% gap is enough by motion. Any change runs only from the month after the other parent is served, so months of delay cannot be recovered.
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$0: what an ORS review or the courts’ Self-Help Center costs
If the Office of Recovery Services handles your case, a written request starts a review of the amount; ORS does not decide custody or parent-time. The courts’ Self-Help Center has staff attorneys who answer process questions and help with forms, weekdays 11 to 5 at 888-683-0009 or by text, though they cannot represent you.
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The 5 firm dossiers
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Smoak Law, P.C.
Parents changing an existing order who want one senior lawyer handling the case personally downtown
Why it made the list
Emily Smoak runs Smoak Law from 299 South Main Street, a short walk from the Matheson Courthouse. Her pitch as a Salt Lake City child support attorney centers on modification: which income changes count, how a relocation or deployment that shifts parent-time can move the worksheet, and the records she asks clients to bring, from child care and insurance premiums to special-needs costs. She was admitted in Utah in 2004 after practicing in Maine from 1994, and the firm states she was a partner at Durham Jones & Pinegar before opening her own practice. Criminal defense and civil litigation sit beside the family work.
Proof file
- Lead attorneyEmily B. Smoak, owner and principal attorney
- Bar recordUtah Bar No. 9831; Active; admitted May 25, 2004
- Office299 S Main St, 13th Floor (Suite 1300), Salt Lake City, UT 84111
- Phone801-535-4311
- Fee termsNot published; initial consultation by appointment
- BackgroundJD, University of Maine, 1994; former partner at Durham Jones & Pinegar
- Other practiceCriminal defense, civil litigation, prenuptial agreements, alimony
- Google rating4.4 from 13 reviews
Your first-call script
QWill you handle my modification yourself, and who covers a hearing if you are in trial elsewhere?
QHow much of the retainer do you expect to use in the first month, and will I get itemized bills each month?
QYour page lists relocation and deployment as triggers. How would my parent-time change move the worksheet?
From the reviews we read
+ Fights hard for clients+ Candid about outcomes~ Early billing disputed in two reviews~ 13 reviews, a small base
Clients who praise her describe an attentive lawyer who fights hard and is candid about likely outcomes, and one credits her with a settlement better than the first offer. Two reviewers dispute how quickly an early retainer was used and how well a hearing was prepared. With 13 reviews, the sample is small in both directions.
Fit and watch-outFits a parent who wants a senior lawyer with criminal and civil trial background working the file directly. The trade-off: a one-attorney firm with no published fees and a small review base, two of which question early billing, so get the retainer terms and billing schedule in writing before you sign.
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Law Office of David Pedrazas, PLLC
Parents chasing unpaid support or facing a contested change who want a long-practicing litigator
Why it made the list
David Pedrazas has been a member of the Utah bar since 1998 and runs his firm from 3920 South 1100 East on the city’s east side, outside downtown. Of the five sites, his goes deepest for anyone looking for a Utah child support enforcement lawyer, with separate pages on enforcement, modification and a calculator guide that points to the state ORS tool. That matters when the problem is a parent who stopped paying rather than a change in income, and several reviews describe arrears collected and a contempt finding. His FAQ says fees are hourly. DUI defense is the one practice outside family law.
Proof file
- Lead attorneyDavid Pedrazas
- Bar recordUtah Bar No. 8041; Active; admitted May 20, 1998
- Office3920 S 1100 E, Suite 320, Salt Lake City, UT 84124; Mon to Fri, 8 AM to 5 PM
- Phone801-263-7078
- Fee termsHourly billing; rate and retainer not published
- Child support pagesChild support, enforcement, modification, calculator guide
- Recognition listedAvvo rating and Clients Choice, directory and academy badges
- Google rating4.9 from 237 reviews
Your first-call script
QIf my ex is behind on support, would you start with an order to show cause or with ORS enforcement, and what does each cost me?
QWhat is your hourly rate, and what retainer do you ask for a contested modification?
QWill you appear at every hearing yourself, or does another lawyer cover some of them?
From the reviews we read
+ Quick call-backs+ Candid about weak points+ Arrears and contempt results~ 2019 reviews from non-clients~ Criticism from an opposing party
At 237 reviews this is by far the largest base here, and recent reviews describe quick call-backs, plain talk about weak points and wins in custody and arrears disputes. Two caveats: a run of reviews from July 2019 comes from people who say they never hired the firm, and a recent reviewer on the opposing side of a parentage case criticized his approach.
Fit and watch-outThe strongest review record here and the most child support content, which suits enforcement and contested cases. The trade-off: the office is outside downtown, no rate is published, and the site leans on directory badges and award language you should weigh on your own.
03
Christensen Law
Support disputes likely to reach trial or appeal, handled by a two-lawyer downtown team
Why it made the list
Christensen Law works from 225 South 200 East downtown with two attorneys: founder Steve S. Christensen, admitted in 1992, and Clinton R. Brimhall, admitted in 2014. The firm presents itself as Salt Lake City family lawyers with a trial and appeal focus. Christensen states he has handled more than a hundred trials and evidentiary hearings and is admitted before the Tenth Circuit and the US Supreme Court, and one client testimonial describes a divorce appeal that went to the Utah Supreme Court. Its support page explains what a request requires and points to the ORS calculator. Juvenile court, adoption and protective orders are also on its list.
Proof file
- AttorneysSteve S. Christensen, founder; Clinton R. Brimhall, senior attorney
- Bar recordsChristensen: No. 6156, Active, admitted Aug 21, 1992. Brimhall: No. 15100, Active, admitted Oct 16, 2014
- Office225 S 200 E, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84111; Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM
- Phone801-303-5800 on the site; 801-348-2779 on Google
- Fee termsNot published; the site says it cannot offer free legal aid
- Trial recordStates more than 100 trials and evidentiary hearings; admitted to the Tenth Circuit and US Supreme Court
- Google rating4.3 from 97 reviews
Your first-call script
QIs the first consultation billed, and at what rate?
QYour support page describes the older modification test. How does the 15% rule apply to my order if it is under three years old?
QWill Steve or Clinton handle my case day to day, and who appears at hearings?
From the reviews we read
+ Teamwork in long divorces+ Clear explanations~ Billing disputes in several reviews~ Mixed record across 97 reviews
Positive reviews credit the Christensen and Brimhall pairing in long, contested divorces and describe clear explanations at each step. Several one-star reviews dispute billing, including a charge for a first meeting the reviewer understood to be free, and one describes a lien placed near the end of a case. The split is wider here than for most firms on this page.
Fit and watch-outSuited to a parent whose support fight may end in trial or on appeal and who wants a downtown office. The trade-off: billing complaints recur in the reviews, fees are not published, and three different phone numbers appear across the site and Google.
04
Hanks & Peterson Law PLLC
Cases where one parent may be hiding or underreporting income, with a larger bench to draw on
Why it made the list
Hanks & Peterson has the largest team on this page, with at least six attorneys and four support staff listed, in the Judge Building at 8 East Broadway downtown. Its pitch as Utah alimony and child support lawyers leans into one problem: income that is concealed or underreported. The firm states its lawyers include people with business and accounting backgrounds, former prosecutors and fraud litigators, and says it will dig into disclosures when the numbers do not add up. Named partner Robert W. Peterson, admitted in 2006, also handles real estate, water and natural resource cases, so the firm’s practice runs wider than family law.
Proof file
- Named partnerRobert W. Peterson; team also lists David L. Hanks, Brady Kronmiller, Ankita Gupta and others
- Bar recordsPeterson: No. 11297, Active, admitted Oct 12, 2006. David L. Hanks: No. 16067, Active, admitted Oct 18, 2016
- OfficeJudge Building, 8 E Broadway, Suite 740, Salt Lake City, UT 84111; Mon to Fri, 8 AM to 5 PM
- Phone801-363-0940 on the site header; 855-888-5608 on practice pages; 855-205-0011 on Google
- Fee termsNot published
- Hidden income workStates its team includes accounting backgrounds, former prosecutors and fraud litigators
- Google rating4.2 from 53 reviews
Your first-call script
QWhich attorney would handle my support case, and how much of that lawyer’s practice is family law?
QIf I think my ex is hiding income, what discovery or forensic steps do you use, and what do they add to the cost?
QWhich number reaches your intake fastest: 801-363-0940 or the 855 numbers on your pages and Google?
From the reviews we read
+ Individual lawyers praised by name+ Responsive paralegal team~ Complaint from an opposing party~ 53 reviews
Recent reviews name individual lawyers, Brady Kronmiller, David Hanks and Ankita Gupta, plus paralegal Tauni, and describe steady, direct handling and patient answers. One one-star review comes from someone on the other side of a case who objected to whom the firm chose to represent, rather than to its service.
Fit and watch-outFits a parent who suspects unreported income and wants a bigger downtown team. The trade-off: your case could go to any of several lawyers with different experience, fees are not published, and parts of the site still use the older P.C. name.
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Read Law, LLC
Parents who want a fixed-price first conversation and to test the numbers before hiring
Why it made the list
Read Law is the one firm here that prints its consultation prices: $100 for a 30-minute phone call with an attorney, or $265 to $300 for an hour on Zoom with David W. Read, booked online at any hour. Read was admitted in 2010 and says he trained at Strong & Hanni and Cordell & Cordell. Read markets the firm as a Utah divorce attorney, and the site adds child support, alimony, parent-time and expense calculators. A separate Spanish line, 801-Divorcio, takes calls. The office is at 3860 South 2300 East, and the firm also covers Weber, Davis and Utah counties.
Proof file
- Lead attorneyDavid W. Read
- Bar recordUtah Bar No. 13089; Active; admitted May 18, 2010
- Office3860 S 2300 E, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
- Phone801-348-6723; Spanish line 801-348-6724
- Consultation fees$100 for 30 minutes by phone; $265 or $300 for 60 minutes on Zoom
- Counties servedSalt Lake, Weber, Davis and Utah
- Google rating4.2 from 25 reviews
Your first-call script
QDoes the $100 or $265 consultation fee count toward the retainer if I hire you?
QWho answers the 801-Divorcio line, and will a Spanish speaker work on my case?
QWill you run my numbers through your calculator before we choose between a motion to adjust and a petition?
From the reviews we read
+ Calm, efficient negotiator+ Careful with the client’s budget+ Helpful paralegals~ 25 reviews, a modest base
The reviews we read describe a calm negotiator who escalates only when needed, careful use of the client’s budget and helpful paralegals. All five we read were positive. The 4.2 average means lower ratings exist that we did not see in full, and 25 reviews is a modest base.
Fit and watch-outGood for a parent who wants to know the cost of the first conversation and see the math before committing. The trade-off: the office is outside downtown, David Read is the only attorney named on the site, and the award badges shown are the firm’s own display.
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Before you hire: six checks for a Utah child support case
Fee agreement in writing. Get the hourly rate, the retainer, what counts as billable time such as emails and short calls, and a promise of itemized monthly bills before you pay anything.
Name the lawyer on your file. Ask who will draft, who will appear at hearings, and who answers your calls. At a multi-lawyer firm this can be someone other than the person you met.
Run the numbers first. Use the ORS child support calculator to see whether the new amount clears the 15% gap, or 10% if the order is three or more years old. If it does not, a filing may cost more than it returns.
File and serve without waiting. Under Utah Code 81-7-102 a change runs only from the month after the other parent is served. Each month of delay is a month at the old amount.
Bring two years of tax returns. Court forms for a motion to adjust ask both parents for two years of tax returns and the most recent pay stub. Having them ready shortens the first meeting.
Check the bar record yourself. The Utah State Bar licensee directory shows each lawyer’s bar number, status and admission date. Confirm the lawyer is Active before you sign.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a child support lawyer cost in Salt Lake City?
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Of the five firms here, only Read Law publishes a price: $100 for a 30-minute phone consultation, or $265 to $300 for an hour with David Read. The Law Office of David Pedrazas bills hourly without printing a rate, and the others quote after a call. The court fee to file a petition to modify is $100, and it can be waived for people who qualify.
When can child support be changed in Utah?
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If the order is less than three years old, you need a material change, such as a 30% change in a parent’s income or a change in custody, and the new guideline amount must differ by 15% or more. Once the order is three years old, a 10% difference is enough and can be raised by motion. The change cannot be temporary.
Can a child support change be backdated in Utah?
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Only to the date the other parent is served. Under Utah Code 81-7-102, a modification takes effect the month after service, and support that came due before then cannot be reduced. That is why it pays to file soon after income changes.
Can the Office of Recovery Services change my order without a lawyer?
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If ORS handles your case, you can ask in writing for a review and adjustment of the amount at no cost. ORS reviews support and medical provisions only; custody and parent-time stay with the court.
Do I need a lawyer to modify child support in Utah?
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Not always. The Utah State Courts publish the forms, and the Self-Help Center answers process questions for free. A lawyer earns the fee when the other parent contests, when income is hidden, or when custody and support change together.
Will unpaid child support start earning interest in Utah?
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Yes, starting July 1, 2027. A 2026 amendment to Utah Code 81-7-102 adds 6% interest on delinquent child support, counted on the principal from the date a payment becomes delinquent until it is paid.
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Method and sources
How we checked these firms+
This is a shortlist of five Salt Lake City family law firms that take child support cases, not a ranking. For each one we read its own site for office address, attorneys, fee terms and child support content, looked up each lead attorney in the Utah State Bar licensee directory for bar number, status and admission date, and checked the firm’s Google Business Profile for address, phone and rating, reading the review text itself.
Where a firm describes its own experience, results or awards, we say it is the firm’s statement. The bar directory shows license status, not discipline history; we did not search Utah Supreme Court discipline orders, so ask the Utah State Bar if that matters to you. The Utah rules summarized here come from the statute text of Utah Code 81-6-212 and 81-7-102 and the Utah State Courts modification page.
Sources+
- Firm websites: smoaklaw.com, utahdivorce.biz, ccplawyers.com, hplawslc.com, utahdivorceattorney.com (read November 2026)
- Utah State Bar licensee directory: bar number, status and admission date for each named attorney (checked November 2026)
- Google Business Profiles for each firm: address, phone, hours, rating, review count and review text (checked November 2026)
- Utah Code 81-6-212, modification and adjustment of child support (statute text, Chapter 366, 2024 General Session)
- Utah Code 81-7-102, payment under a support order and retroactive modification, effective May 6, 2026 (Chapter 83, 2026 General Session)
- Utah Code 78A-2-301, filing fee for a petition to modify a domestic relations order
- Utah State Courts, Modifying Child Support page and Self-Help Center contact page
- Utah Office of Recovery Services, review and adjustment of child support orders