Stephen M Vincent

Stephen Vincent is a founding member and attorney at State 48. Stephen has a passion for the law and teaching. He has combined those loves as the head of new client intake and head of legal education programs. He also is the firm’s main researcher and works on all appellate cases.

Stephen Vincent, Attorney, is a lifelong writer who uses this skill to explain clearly and memorably a client’s case to judges. A native of St. George, Utah, Stephen attended Arizona State University for law school where he interned for the Goldwater Institute and worked as a Justice Court mediator. After law school, Stephen worked for a year at the Washington County (Utah) Attorney’s Office. While there, he drafted county ordinances, assisted in homicide prosecutions, and headed up a major project to protect the county’s access to federal lands.

Before law school, Stephen worked as a sportswriter in Utah. He has also taught writing and communication courses at Southern Utah University and Dixie State University. Because of his background as a professional writer and writing instructor, Stephen is the ideal person to tell your story. Stephen loves sports and spending time with his 24 nieces and nephews.

Arizona State University

J.D. (2013) | Law

2010 - 2013

Honors: Four-time Pedrick Scholar (Dean's List) CALI Award in Arizona Media Law

Southern Utah University

M.A. (2008) | Communication

2005 - 2008

Brigham Young University

B.A. (2004) | Communications (Print Journalism). Minor: English

2001 - 2004

Client Intake Attorney and Appellate Attorney

State 48 Law

2021 - Current

Senior Attorney

Best Law Firm

2015 - 2021

Special Deputy County Attorney

Washington County (Utah) Attorney's Office

2014 - 2015

Rising Star

Super Lawyers

2022

Top Family Law Lawyers in Scottsdale

Expertise

2022

Firm Award

State Bar of Arizona  # 030779

Member

Current

Arizona

State Bar of Arizona

• Credit Cards Accepted

Q. My son recently turned 18 and is a high school senior. My ex-wife is won't provide transportation for him to my house.

October 10, 2024

A: The law is not entirely clear on this. A child is not emancipated for SUPPORT purposes until they are 18 and have graduated high school. If they don't graduate high school, they emancipate when they turn 19.

However, that does not mean that's the law for custody.

Ultimately, it comes down to this: An 18-year-old is an adult. Because he is an adult, he is no longer subject to a Parenting Plan. Therefore, the parenting schedule for him is over.

Even if it wasn't, it likely would not be worth enforcing. If filed now and served by November, you'd probably get (best case scenario) a February hearing and a ruling in March, and have two months of enforced parenting time and lots of time and energy wasted. And a more realistic timeline is that this could very well be going to trial just as he's graduating.

As for ownership of the car, whose name is on the title? If his name is on the title, Mom likely can't sell his property now that he's an adult, but there may be question as to whether a contract exists between them. Additionally, if it's in her name, though, she does have control over it. ... Read More

Q. Can my nieces CAA court order my dog to be taken away from me based on a lie of saying he is her emotional support dog?

October 10, 2024

A: I am probably too late on this ...

Most likely, the family court does not have jurisdiction over your dog.

The family court only has jurisdiction over dogs in divorces and only when the dog was acquired during the marriage and is the property of one or both of the spouses. In that situation, the Court decides which of the spouses gets the dog.

That does not sound like your situation. The family court does not have the jurisdiction to decide who gets the dog as between you and your brother. The CAA should not opine on what happens with the dog, as the Court cannot make an order regarding the dog.

In a non-divorce custody case, the family court can decide only what happens with the child.

Further, if you can prove you have ownership of the dog, your brother has no right to take the dog from you.

Presuming your brother followed through, you likely to need to sue your brother (and possibly the mother of his child) in small claims court and ask the Court to order that they return the dog to you. But then you'll need to be ready to prove the dog is yours. That should include that he is registered in your name, that you have taken him to the vet and paid his vet bills, etc. ... Read More

Q. the mother of my child's father is a sex offender, caught with young children is there anything i can do to get my son?

October 10, 2024

A: You and your parents (who need to file since you're not 18) should contact a family lawyer if they haven't already, should consider filing to get some orders in place and perhaps emergency custody, including orders that her father not have any contact with the child.