Title 81, Title 81: Utah Domestic Relations Code

81-13-105. Adoption order from foreign country. (1) Except as otherwise provided by federal law, an adoption order rendered to a resident of this state that is made by a foreign country shall be recognized by the courts of this state and enforced as if the order were rendered by …

81-13-106. Compact for Interstate Sharing of Putative Father Registry Information -- Severability clause. This compact enables the sharing of putative father registry information collected by a state that is a party to the compact with all other states that are parties to the com…

81-13-201. Definitions for part. As used in this part, "sexual offense" means: (1) "Sexual offense" means: an offense described in Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses; or an offense under the laws of the state where the minor child was conceived that is substantially sim…

81-13-202. Legislative findings -- Best interest of the minor child -- Interests of each party. (1) In every adoption of a minor child that, the best interest of the minor child should govern and be of foremost concern in a court's determination. A determination of a minor child'…

81-13-203. Who may adopt -- Adoption of a minor child. (1) An adult may adopt a minor child in accordance with this section and this chapter. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section and subject to the placement requirements described in Section, a minor child may be adop…

81-13-204. Petition for adoption of a minor child. (1) A person may bring a petition for adoption of a minor child: before the birth of the minor child; or before or after the minor child is placed in the home of the adoptive parent for the purpose of adoption. (2) Except as prov…

81-13-205. Petition to terminate parental rights of a minor child. (1) A party may bring a petition seeking to terminate parental rights to a minor child for the purpose of facilitating the adoption of the minor child in a court with jurisdiction under. Title 78A, Judiciary and J…

81-13-206. Determination of rights in an adoption proceeding for a minor child. (1) Any interested person may petition a court with jurisdiction over an adoption proceeding of a minor child for a determination of the rights and interests of any person who may claim an interest in…

81-13-207. Notice of an adoption proceeding for a minor child. (1) A petitioner in an adoption proceeding described in Section,, orshall serve a notice of the adoption proceeding on each of the following persons: 81-13-204 81-13-205 81-13-206 any person or agency whose consent or…

81-13-208. Prebirth notice to birth father of intent to place a minor child for adoption. (1) As used in this section, "birth father" means: a potential birth father; or an unmarried biological father. (2) Before the birth of a minor child, the following persons may notify a birt…

81-13-209. Declaration regarding each potential birth father for out-of-state birth mother and adoptive parents-- Putative father registry -- Notice to potential birth father. (1) The procedural and substantive requirements of this section are required only to the extent that the…

81-13-210. Custody pending final decree. (1) Except as otherwise provided by the court, once a petitioner has received the adoptee into the petitioner's home and a petition for adoption has been filed, the petitioner is entitled to the custody and control of the child adoptee and…

81-13-211. Counseling for parents. (1) As used in this section, "parent" means a person described in Subsectionsthrough (f) for whom the consent or relinquishment of a minor child for the adoption is required. 81-13-212(1)(b) (2) Subject to Subsection, before relinquishing a mino…

81-13-212. Necessary consent to adoption or relinquishment for adoption of a minor child -- Implied consent. (1) Except as provided in Subsection, the following persons are required to consent to an adoption of a minor child, or to relinquishment of a minor child, before an adopt…

81-13-213. Consent of unmarried biological father. (1) As used in this section, "qualifying circumstance" means that, at any point during the time period beginning at the conception of the child adoptee and ending at the time that the birth mother executes a consent to adoption o…

81-13-214. Persons who may take consents and relinquishments. (1) A birth mother shall sign a consent or relinquishment, or a child adoptee shall sign a consent, before: a judge of any court that has jurisdiction over adoption proceedings; subject to Subsection, a person appointe…

81-13-215. Contested adoption of a minor child -- Rights of parties -- Determination of custody. (1) If an individual whose consent for an adoption of a minor child is required as described in Subsection, (c), (d), (e), or (f) refused to consent, the court shall determine whether…

81-13-216. Postadoption contact agreement. (1) As used in this section: "Postadoption contact agreement" means a document, agreed upon before the finalization of an adoption of a minor child, that outlines the relationship between an adoptive parent, birth parent, or other birth …

81-13-217. Affidavit regarding fees and expenses before final decree of adoption of a minor child. (1) Except as provided in Subsection, before the date that a final decree of adoption for a child adoptee is entered, a prospective adoptive parent or, if the child adoptee was plac…

81-13-218. Final decree of adoption of a minor child -- Agreement by adoptive parent or parents. (1) Before entering a final decree of adoption, the court shall examine separately each person appearing before the court in accordance with this chapter. If the court is satisfied th…

81-13-219. Timing of entry of final decree of adoption of a minor child -- Posthumous adoption of a minor child. (1) Except as provided in Subsectionor (2), the court may not enter a final decree of adoption for a child adoptee until the earlier of: (1)(b) when the child adoptee …

81-13-220. Effect of adoption of a minor child on pre-existing parent. (1) A pre-existing parent of a child adoptee: is released from all parental rights and duties toward and all responsibilities for the child adoptee, including residual parental rights and duties, as defined in…

81-13-301. Definitions for part. Reserved.

81-13-302. Who may adopt an adult. (1) Except as provided in Subsectionsand (3), an adult may adopt another adult. (2) (2) A married adult who is lawfully separated from the married adult's spouse may not adopt another adult without the consent of the married adult's spouse if th…

81-13-303. Notice of adoption of an adult. (1) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(c), a petitioner in an adoption proceeding shall serve notice of the proceeding on: the adult adoptee; the spouse of the petitioner if the petitioner is married; any legally appointed guardian or …

81-13-304. Necessary consent to adoption of an adult -- Persons who may take consents. (1) The following persons are required to consent to an adoption of an adult adoptee before the adoption is granted: the adult adoptee; any individual who is adopting the adult adoptee; the spo…

81-13-305. Final decree of adoption of an adult -- Agreement by adoptive parent or parents. (1) Before entering a final decree of adoption of an adult adoptee, the court shall examine separately each person appearing before the court in accordance with this chapter. (2) If the co…

81-13-306. Effect of adoption of an adult on pre-existing parent. (1) A pre-existing parent of an adult adoptee: is released from all parental rights and duties toward and all responsibilities for the adult adoptee, including residual parental rights and duties, as defined in Sec…

81-13-401. Definitions for part. Reserved.

81-13-402. Placement of an adoptee in custody of state -- Priority placement. (1) To provide a minor child, who is in the legal custody of the division, with the most beneficial family structure when the minor child is placed for adoption, the division or child-placing agency sha…

81-13-403. Preplacement adoptive evaluations -- Exceptions. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an adoptee, who is a minor child or vulnerable adult, may not be placed in an adoptive home until a preplacement adoptive evaluation, assessing the prospective adoptive p…

81-13-404. Postplacement adoptive evaluations. (1) Except as provided in Subsectionsand, a postplacement evaluation shall be conducted and submitted to the court before the final hearing in an adoption proceeding for a minor child or a vulnerable adult. (2) (3) (2) The postplacem…

81-13-405. Preplacement and postplacement adoptive evaluations -- Review by court. (1) If the person conducting the preplacement adoptive evaluation or postplacement adoptive evaluation disapproves the adoptive placement, the court may dismiss the petition for adoption. Upon requ…

81-13-501. Definitions for part. Reserved.

81-13-502. Applicability of part. (1) Sectionsthroughdo not apply to an adoption of a minor child by a stepparent whose spouse is the adoptee's parent. 81-13-503 81-13-505 (2) Sectionsthroughapply only to an adoption of an adoptee born in this state. 81-13-503 81-13-505

81-13-503. Nonidentifying health history of adoptee filed with office -- Limited availability. (1) Upon finalization of an adoption in this state of a minor child, the person who proceeded on behalf of the petitioner for adoption, or a child-placing agency if an agency is involve…

81-13-504. Mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry -- Procedures -- Fees. (1) As used in this section, "adopted individual" means a child adoptee who is 18 years old or older. (2) The office shall establish a mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry. (3) An adopted individ…

81-13-505. Adoption information -- Adoption records fees. (1) The office may not disclose information maintained or filed with the office under this chapter unless the disclosure is permitted by this chapter or by a court order. Any person who discloses information obtained from …