{"id":376707,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/utah-law\/utah-adoption-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-11-15T10:41:27","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T15:41:27","slug":"utah-adoption-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/utah-law\/utah-adoption-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Utah Adoption Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Utah Adoption Laws<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/natalie-moritz\/\">Natalie Moritz<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/laura-temme-esq\/\">Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            November 15, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>Like in all states,&nbsp;state law regulates Utah&nbsp;adoptions. This includes:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Who can adopt<\/li>\r\n<li>Who can get adopted<\/li>\r\n<li>Other requirements to legally adopt another person<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>This page outlines <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption.html\">adoption laws<\/a> in Utah. It also includes a table summarizing the state&#8217;s key adoption statutes.<\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Utah Adoptions: The Basics<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>Utah courts consider the best interests of the child in adoptions, just like in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/utah-law\/utah-child-custody-laws.html\">child custody<\/a> cases. Utah adoptions must also follow federal laws, like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bia.gov\/bia\/ois\/dhs\/icwa#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of%20the%20Indian,children%20in%20homes%20which%20will\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indian Child Welfare Act<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>In Utah, eligible married couples or single adults can adopt. <a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ut\/title-78b-judicial-code\/ut-code-sect-78b-6-117.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">State law<\/a> does not allow cohabitating adults to adopt if they are not legally married. But a person with a live-in partner may adopt a relative, such as a niece or nephew.<\/p>\r\n<p>Adoptive parents must also be <a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ut\/title-78b-judicial-code\/ut-code-sect-78b-6-118.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">at least 10 years older<\/a> than the adoptee. If a married couple is adopting, only one parent must be at least 10 years older.<\/p>\r\n<p>In most cases, adoptees 12 or older must consent to the adoption. If a court terminates a birth mother or birth father&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ut\/title-78b-judicial-code\/ut-code-sect-78b-6-127.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">parental rights<\/a>, their consent is not needed to proceed with an adoption.<\/p>\r\n<p>There are also distinct rules for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.utcourts.gov\/en\/self-help\/case-categories\/family\/adoption\/adult-adoption.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">adopting an adult<\/a> in Utah.<\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Public Adoption vs. Private Adoptions in Utah<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>The primary difference between public adoption and private adoption is the source of the adopted child. Government agencies oversee public adoptions and place adoptees from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/foster-care.html\">foster care system<\/a>. Non-government adoption agencies or birth parents can arrange private adoptions.<\/p>\r\n<p>Several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/the-different-types-of-adoption.html\">types of adoptions<\/a> typically fall under private adoptions:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Adoptions through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/agency-adoptions.html\">child-placing agencies<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Stepparent or relative adoptions<\/li>\r\n<li>International adoptions<\/li>\r\n<li>Independent adoptions<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/independent-adoption.html\">independent adoptions<\/a>, prospective adoptive parents and biological parents work together directly instead of through an adoption services agency. Parties use an adoption attorney to draw up legal paperwork and negotiate adoption terms.<\/p>\r\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/dcfs.utah.gov\/services\/adoption\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Division of Children and Family Services<\/a> manages public adoptions in the state. Prospective parents planning to adopt through the foster care system must meet several requirements, including:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Attending 24 hours of pre-adoption training (per parent)<\/li>\r\n<li>Passing a background check<\/li>\r\n<li>Completing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/the-adoption-home-study-process.html\">home study process<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Contracted social workers from the <a href=\"https:\/\/cssutah.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Children&#8217;s Service Society<\/a> administer the home study and associated assessments.<\/p>\r\n<p>After a finalized adoption, the state reimburses adoptive parents&#8217; legal expenses (up to $2,000 per child).<\/p>\r\n<p>Public adoptions also tend to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/costs-of-adopting-fact-sheet-for-families.html\">less expensive<\/a> than private adoptions. But, private adoptions can offer more flexibility with adoption terms, like for adoptive families and birth parents wanting an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/open-or-closed-adoption-pros-of-each.html\">open adoption<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Public and private adoptions must follow state and federal adoption laws.<\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Adopting Native American Children in Utah<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>Special rules apply to adoptive families if the adoptee is a member of a tribal community or is eligible for tribal membership through one of their birth parents. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.utcourts.gov\/en\/self-help\/case-categories\/family\/icwa.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indian Child Welfare Act<\/a> is a federal law outlining several parameters for adoptions involving children with tribal affiliations.<\/p>\r\n<p>Adoptive families or agencies must notify the child&#8217;s tribe of a prospective adoption placement. Once notified, the tribe can intervene in the adoption case.<\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Table of Utah Adoption Laws<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>For full information on the adoption statute, see the Utah Adoption Act. The table below offers a snapshot of Utah&#8217;s key legal requirements for adoption.<\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Code sections<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td>Utah Code Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 1:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ut\/title-78b-judicial-code\/ut-code-sect-78b-6-101.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Adoption Act<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Who can be adopted<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td>Any child or adult can be adopted if eligible, and they follow Utah adoption laws.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Consent of child<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td>A child who&#8217;s at least&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ut\/title-78b-judicial-code\/ut-code-sect-78b-6-120.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">12 years old<\/a> and any adults must consent to adoption if they have the mental capacity to consent.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Who can adopt<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td>Any adult can adopt but must have the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ut\/title-78b-judicial-code\/ut-code-sect-78b-6-114.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">consent of their spouse<\/a> if married. A single person typically can adopt, but cohabitating couples who aren&#8217;t married generally can&#8217;t.&nbsp;Adoption by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/adoption-and-same-sex-couples-basics.html\">same-sex couples<\/a> is&nbsp;legal in Utah and all states.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Home residency is required before finalization of adoption<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td>The home residency rule, or the time a child must live in the home before the adoption gets finalized, is usually six months. But for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/stepparent-adoption-faq-s.html\">stepparents<\/a>&nbsp;to adopt their spouse&#8217;s children, the child must live with the stepparent for at least one year.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>State agency<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td>In Utah, the state agency handling foster care and adoptions of children who can&#8217;t be returned to their families of origin is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dhhs.utah.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Child and Family Services<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>State court<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td>You can file the adoption petition in your local&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.utcourts.gov\/directory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">district court<\/a> or the juvenile court for children who were abused or neglected or those whose parents have had their parental rights terminated in the juvenile court.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Statute of limitations to challenge<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td>Birth parents can contest adoption after entry of the final adoption decree, even in the case of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ut\/title-78b-judicial-code\/ut-code-sect-78b-6-106.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fraudulent misrepresentation<\/a> connected to the adoption. But it&#8217;s possible to seek civil or criminal penalties for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/adoption-fraud.html\">adoption fraud<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n<p><i>Note:&nbsp;State laws are constantly updated, whether by legislators, voters, or court decisions. It&#8217;s best to verify these adoption laws by contacting a knowledgeable attorney who can analyze your unique case.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<p>You can speak with a <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/adoption\/utah?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah adoption lawyer<\/a> to ensure the process goes smoothly. Whether you&#8217;re pursuing stepparent,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/international-adoption.html\">international<\/a>, or foster care adoption, a lawyer specializing in this area can explain applicable laws and help you explore your options.<\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Related Resources: Utah Law and Adoption Support<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/utah-law.html\">Utah Law<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/how-to-adopt.html\">How To Adopt<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/adoption-laws.html\">Learn About Adoption Laws<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/adoptionregistry.utah.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Adoption Registry<\/a> (Utah Department of Health and Human Services)<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.utahadopt.org\/support-resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Post-Placement Support and Resources<\/a> (Utah Adoption Connection)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><b>Legal Help for Utah Adoptive Parents<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>The adoption process is complex and overwhelming. An <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/adoption\/utah?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">adoption attorney<\/a> can help you navigate the many state and federal laws that govern adoption. Besides providing helpful legal advice, an experienced attorney can guide you through the adoption proceedings and advocate for you and your growing family.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g 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