Laura H. Cabanilla

My legal practice is mainly focused on family law, although I do also include criminal defense, juvenile law, personal injury and other legal matters in my practice.  My staff and I have the experience and compassion to give our clients the best legal advice and attention in the most challenging divorce cases.  We hope to make every client feel like they are our only client.  We give our clients meticulous service.  As a help to my clients I recently wrote a book, which I provide at no charge to my clients, entitled  A Handbook To Divorce In Utah: A Plain-English Guide To Help You Make Informed Decisions.  This book is also available online through at 

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A little about me: I attended college at Brigham Young University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in English. During college I joined the U.S. Army Reserve in order to pay for my schooling and because of my desire to serve my country (I come from a military family).  I was the only female cadet commissioned at that time or in the ROTC program at that time.  I am a 1994 graduate of Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School.  

Immediately after graduating from law school, I clerked for Judge Ray M. Harding Sr., with the Fourth Judicial Court.  This experience was invaluable as it gave me an inside look at the workings of the Court.  Under Judge Harding's direction, I researched and wrote all his decisions. 

After my clerkship I accepted a position with the Orem City Attorney's office. This prepared me for my next position as a prosecutor with the Utah County Attorney's office, where I prosecuted many high profile criminal cases.  

In 2000, I joined the law firm which is now Esplin│Weight.  I am a partner with the firm and share in the ownership of the historic building where the firm is located.  My practice consists primarily of family law cases in resolving divorce and modification issues, (including appointment on children’s advocacy cases), criminal defense, and personal injury. 

While I was obtaining my legal education, not only was I raising my family (you'll read about them below) but I was simultaneously and continuously a member of the United States Army Reserve.  I served in several demanding assignments which gave me many varied and wonderful life lessons:  from an assignment as the Commander of a Petroleum Supply Company, Military Intelligence Officer, to ROTC instructor.  

In 2010 I was deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  I was based in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait but travelled frequently to Iraq and Bahrain during the Arab Spring which was occuring in the Middle East at that time.  I returned to Provo, Utah and finished out a four year term on the Provo City Council, and retired from the Army Reserve in 2012.  

I am glad to be of service to my community in any way I can, I continue to serve on various community boards.  Currently I am the Chair of the Provo Farmers Market Board; board member of Therapy Animals of Utah; member; Utah County Career Services Commission; board member of Utah County Clean Air Task Force; Brigham Young University Army ROTC Advisory Panel member; and a committee member for the Utah State Bar's New Lawyer Training Program.

I am married to Dave Cabanilla, an airline pilot with Federal Express and local land developer.  We  have four children:  triplets and a younger son.  We are now proud grandparents!

The pictures show my homecoming from my deployment, my book, and the arabian desert cat I adopted during my deployment.