Meet Our Attorney-Mediator
Shane A. Marx was a divorce and family law litigator for more than a decade before becoming a mediator. He is now a Utah State Court-Rostered Master Mediator. As a result of this education and experience, Shane is well-versed and has significant skills and experience in legal matters regarding:
Divorce, division of marital estate, & alimony
Custody, parent-time, & child support
Pre/post-marital agreements
Cohabitant abuse & protective orders
Child abuse, neglect, & dependency
Termination of parental rights
Guardianship
Paternity & parentage
Adoption
Gestational surrogacy & assisted reproduction
Same-sex relationship recognition/dissolution
Common law marriage recognition/dissolution
Alternative family forms
Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction / International Child Abduction Remedies Act
Private guardian ad litem appointments
LGBT family Law
Shane is also a former Utah Supreme Court clerk. He regularly provides pro bono legal advice to self-represented parties at the Third District Court’s domestic pro se calendar and through other community outreach programs.
Awards, Activities & Publications
2022 Legal Elite, Utah Business Magazine®
2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, & 2015 “Rising Star in the Mountain States,” Family Law SuperLawyers® Magazine
2018, 2017, & 2015 “Top 40 under 40,” The National Advocates®
2018 “Top 10 Family Law Attorneys under Age 40,” National Academy of Family Law Attorneys®
2017 “Up & Coming,” Utah Business Magazine®
“Stephen Pierre Traynor Outstanding Legal Writing Award,” S.J. Quinney College of Law for authorship of Utah’s Cohabitant Limitation & the Fundamental Right to Choose a Parenting Partner (2010)
“William H. Leary Scholar,” S.J. Quinney College of Law
A Founding Board Member of LGBT & Allied Lawyers of Utah Bar Association
Education
Domestic Mediation Training - University of Utah
Basic Mediation Training - Utah Dispute Resolution
Juris Doctor, High Honors – University of Utah
William H. Leary Scholar
Stephen Pierre Traynor Outstanding Legal Writing Award
Dual Bachelors of Arts, Valedictorian – Utah State University
Family and Human Development
Spanish – credits domesticated from studies at Universidad de La Rioja, Spain
Past Professional Experience
Marx Family Law, PLLC – Attorney
Dolowitz Hunnicutt, PLLC - Attorney
Lauren R. Barros, P.C. - Attorney
Utah Supreme Court - Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Justice Ronald E. Nehring
Questar Corporation - Law Clerk to General Counsel
S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah – Legal Writing & Teaching Assistant
Community, Membership & Volunteer Activities
Utah State Bar (member, bar no. 13293)
Utah Dispute Resolution, Basic Mediation Training (certificate)
Utah Council on Conflict Resolution (member)
Family Law Section (member)
Ass’n of Family & Conciliation Courts (member)
Pro Se Calendar, Third District (volunteer)
The Journal of Family Law (2014 editor)
Journal of Law & Family Studies (2011–12 staff)
Rainbow Law Pro Bono Clinic (volunteer)
LGBT & Allied Lawyers of Utah (founding board & current member)
Published Cases
In re C.C.W. & C.C.W., 2019 UT App 34, 440 P.3d 749.
Vanderzon v. Vanderzon, 2017 UT App 150, 402 P.3d 219.
Legal Publications
Shane A. Marx, Case Note, A Best-Interest Inquiry: The Missing Ingredient in Utah Family Law for Children of Alternative Families—Jones v. Barlow, 11 J.L. & Fam. Stud. 157 (2008).
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Child Support & Alimony: Hot Tips & Tricks, CLE sponsored by Family Law Section of the Utah State Bar, Apr. 27, 2018.
Legal Concerns for LGBTQ Families, community forum sponsored by PFLAG Provo/Utah County Chapter & St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Apr. 4, 2017.
LGBT Family Law Practice Update: An Inside Look at What’s Been Happening Since Obergefell, CLE sponsored by LGBT & Allied Lawyers of Utah, Jun. 30, 2016.
Hot Topics & Current Issues in Adoption Law, career & mentorship panel sponsored by the Family Law Society at the S.J. Quinney College of Law, Mar. 31, 2015.
Marriage Equality, community panel sponsored by the OUTreach Resource Center, Feb. 5, 2013.
Valedictorian Commencement Speech, Utah State University undergraduate ceremony, May 5, 2005.
In the News
Marissa Lang, Utah Judge May Hold AG in Contempt over Gay Adoption, Salt Lake Trib., May 17, 2014, available at http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=57949865&itype=CMSID.
Ben Winslow, Same-sex Couple Wants Utah AG, Health Dept. Held in Contempt of Court, Fox 13 News, May 15, 2014, available at https://fox13now.com/2014/05/15/same-sex-couple-wants-utah-ag-health-dept-held-in-contempt-of-court/.
Brook Adams, Utah Lesbian Couple’s Adoption Stalls Despite Court Order: Legal Limbo, Salt Lake Trib., Apr. 4, 2014, available at http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=57765840&itype=CMSID.
Colby Frazier, Same-sex Adoption Status Has Parents & Judges Confused & Fearful, Salt Lake City Weekly, Mar. 5, 2014, available at https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/same-sex-adoption-status-has-parents-and-judges-confused-and-fearful/Content?oid=2373937.
Ray Parker, Same-sex Marriage Panel Advocates Civil Unions, Marriage: Discussions Come as U.S. Supreme Court Sets Hearing on Prop. 8 and Defense of Marriage Act, Salt Lake Trib., Feb. 11, 2013, available at http://archive.sltrib .com/article.php?id=55797560&itype=CMSID.
Colby Frazier, Liquid Law: Some Utah Judge’s Granted Adoptions to Same-Sex Couples without State’s OK, Salt Lake City Weekly, Nov. 5, 2014, available at https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/liquid-law/Content?oid=2592312
Personal
Shane was born and raised in Cache Valley, Utah. He now resides in the mountains adjacent to Salt Lake City, Utah. Shane enjoys hiking, beekeeping, and nearly any outdoor activity with his husband and rescue dogs.
