Utah Court & Family Education Guide
Information for anyone navigating a court order, custody case, or probation requirement in Utah that involves anger management, parenting, co-parenting, or substance-abuse education.
What does Clearway offer?
People are sometimes ordered or referred to an educational program as part of a family-law, custody, probation, or other Utah court-related matter. The type of program required can depend on the circumstances of the case and the exact wording of the court order.
Clearway Institute offers four self-paced online courses: anger management, parenting, co-parenting, and substance-abuse education. Not every course is appropriate for every court order, and completing an online course does not automatically mean a particular Utah court, probation department, or agency will accept it — always read your order carefully and confirm the required program with the court, probation officer, attorney, or other referring agency when you're not sure.
Which type of class do you need?
Start with whichever matches your order or situation — each course page has the full curriculum before you enroll.
What if a Utah court ordered it?
The Utah statute reviewed for this page, Utah Code § 77-36-5, makes domestic violence treatment discretionary rather than mandatory: after a domestic violence conviction the court may order the offender to complete treatment or therapy in a licensed domestic violence treatment program, may assess counseling costs, and may issue a sentencing protective order under § 78B-7-804. Specific requirements are left to the judge and probation.
On the civil side, cohabitant abuse protective orders are handled under Title 78B, Chapter 7, Part 6, and under § 78B-7-606 an order generally expires three years after it is entered unless extended. In custody cases, § 30-3-10 directs the court to consider evidence of domestic violence involving the child. Orders vary, so confirm exactly what your own order requires before enrolling in any course.
What's the difference between classes?
Parenting vs. co-parenting. Parenting covers general child-development, discipline, and communication skills, and comes up in a wide range of family cases. Co-parenting is built specifically for separated or divorcing parents — coordinating two households, handling custody transitions, and keeping kids out of the middle — and is the more common requirement in a custody or divorce order.
Anger management vs. a certified intervention program. Many states, Utah included, treat general educational anger-management coursework as legally distinct from a state-certified batterer intervention, family-violence intervention, or abuser-treatment program ordered specifically in a domestic-violence case — see “What if a Utah court ordered it?” above for how that distinction works here. If your order names a specific certified program by name, an educational anger-management course usually isn't an automatic substitute — check with your court.
Where can I verify requirements?
The most reliable answer always comes from whoever issued your order — the court clerk, your probation or parole officer, your attorney, or the agency that referred you. Below are free, Utah-specific places to start if you need legal help, counseling, or crisis support along the way.
Legal reference material
For anyone who wants to read the underlying statutes for themselves, here is the reference material this guide is based on — Utah civil and family-law sections first, then criminal law.
Civil & family law
Child custody: best-interest factorsUtah Code § 30-3-10
The court decides custody and parent-time based on the best interest of the child. Among the required considerations are evidence of domestic violence, physical abuse, or sexual abuse involving the child, and whether custody and parent-time would endanger the child's health or physical or psychological safety.
Cohabitant abuse protective ordersUtah Code §§ 78B-7-601 to 78B-7-606
Part 6 of Chapter 7 covers protective orders between cohabitants, including ex parte orders, hearings, and extensions. Under § 78B-7-606 an order generally expires three years after entry, and a petitioner may ask the court to extend it by filing a motion before it expires.
Criminal law
AssaultUtah Code § 76-5-102
A class B misdemeanor for an attempt, with unlawful force or violence, to injure another, or an act that causes bodily injury or creates a substantial risk of it. It is a class A misdemeanor if the person causes substantial bodily injury or the victim is pregnant and the person knows it.
Domestic violence offensesUtah Code §§ 77-36-1, 77-36-1.1
Domestic violence is defined as listed criminal offenses involving violence or threats committed by one cohabitant against another, including assault, stalking, and violating a protective order. A domestic violence offense can carry increased penalties under § 77-36-1.1.
StalkingUtah Code § 76-5-106.5
Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that a reasonable person would find fearful or distressing. A first offense is a class A misdemeanor, and it becomes a felony in listed situations, such as when the defendant is a cohabitant of the victim.
Violation of a protective orderUtah Code § 76-5-108
Intentionally or knowingly violating a protective order after being served or present when it was issued is a class A misdemeanor, unless a greater penalty applies under the Cohabitant Abuse Procedures Act.