Title 81, Utah Domestic Relations Code

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

81-13-302. Who may adopt an adult. (1) Except as provided in Subsections (2) and (3), an adult may adopt another adult. (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 t…

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

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: (a) the adult adoptee; (b) any individual who is adopting the adult adoptee;…

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: (a) 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…

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)(a) 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 adoptiv…

81-13-404. Postplacement adoptive evaluations. (1) Except as provided in Subsections (2) and (3), 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) The postplace…

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

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

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

81-13-503. Nonidentifying health history of adoptee filed with office -- Limited availability. (1)(a) 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 invo…

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)(a) An adopted indi…

81-13-505. Adoption information -- Adoption records fees. (1)(a) 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. (b) Any person who discloses information obtaine…

81-14-101. Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1)(a) "Child-placing agency" means a person with authority under other law of this state to identify or place a minor child for adoption. (b) "Child-placing agency" does not include a parent of a minor child. (2) "Custody" means t…

81-14-102. Limitations on applicability. This chapter does not apply to custody of an Indian child, as defined in the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903, to the extent governed by the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 through 1963.

81-14-201. Definitions for part. As used in this part: (1) "Guardian" means a person recognized as a guardian under other law of this state. (2) "Intermediary" means a person that assists or facilitates a transfer of custody of a minor child, whether or not for compensation.

81-14-202. Applicability. This part does not apply to a transfer of custody of a minor child by a parent or guardian of the minor child to: (1) a parent of the minor child; (2) a stepparent of the minor child; (3) an adult who is related to the minor child by blood, marriage, or …

81-14-203. Prohibited custody transfer. (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a parent or guardian of a minor child, or an individual with whom a minor child has been placed for adoption, may not transfer custody of the minor child to another person with the intent, at the ti…

81-14-204. Authority and responsibility of the Division of Child and Family Services. (1) If the Division of Child and Family Services has a reasonable basis to believe that a person has transferred or will transfer custody of a minor child in violation of Subsection 81-14-203(1)…

81-14-205. Prohibited soliciting or advertising. (1) A person may not solicit or advertise to: (a) find a person to which to make a transfer of custody in violation of Subsection 81-14-203(1); (b) identify a minor child for a transfer of custody in violation of Subsection 81-14-2…

81-14-301. Definitions for part. As used in this part, "prospective adoptive parent" means an individual who has been approved or permitted under other law of this state to adopt a minor child.

81-14-302. Scope. This part applies to placement for adoption of a minor child who: (1) has been or is in foster or institutional care; (2) previously has been adopted in a state; (3) has been or is being adopted under the law of a foreign country; (4) has come or is coming to a …

81-14-303. General adoption information. (1) Within a reasonable time before a child-placing agency places a minor child for adoption with a prospective adoptive parent, the child-placing agency shall provide or cause to be provided to the prospective adoptive parent general adop…

81-14-304. Information about a minor child. (1)(a) Except as prohibited by other law of this state, within a reasonable time before a child-placing agency places a minor child for adoption with a prospective adoptive parent, the agency shall provide or cause to be provided to the…

81-14-305. Guidance and instruction. (1) A child-placing agency placing a minor child for adoption shall provide or cause to be provided to the prospective adoptive parent guidance and instruction specific to the minor child to help prepare the parent to respond effectively to ne…

81-14-306. Information about financial assistance and support services. On request of a minor child who was placed for adoption or the minor child's adoptive parent, the child-placing agency placing the minor child or the Division of Child and Family Services shall provide inform…

81-14-307. Child-placing agency compliance. (1) The Division of Licensing and Background Checks, created in Section 26B-2-901, may investigate an allegation that a child-placing agency has failed to comply with this part and commence an action for injunctive or other relief or in…

81-14-308. Rulemaking by Division of Licensing and Background Checks. The Division of Licensing and Background Checks, created in Section 26B-2-901, may adopt rules under Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to implement Sections 81-14-303, 81-14-304, 81-14-3…

81-14-401. Uniformity of application and construction. In applying and construing this chapter, a court shall consider the promotion of uniformity of the law among jurisdictions that enact the uniform act.

81-14-402. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. This chapter modifies, limits, or supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede 15 U.S.C. Sec. 7001(…

81-14-403. Transitional provisions. (1) Part 2, Prohibition of Unregulated Custody Transfer, applies to: (a) a transfer of custody on or after May 4, 2022; and (b) soliciting or advertising on or after May 4, 2022. (2) Part 3, Information and Guidance, applies to placement of a m…

81-14-404. Severability. If a provision of this chapter or the provision's application to a person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect another provision or application that can be given effect without the invalid provision.

81-15-101. Definitions for chapter. As used in this chapter: (1) "Arbitration agreement" means an agreement that subjects a family law dispute to arbitration. (2) "Arbitration organization" means an association, agency, board, commission, or other entity that is neutral and initi…

81-15-102. Scope. (1) This chapter governs arbitration of a family law dispute. (2) This chapter does not authorize an arbitrator to make an award that: (a) grants a legal separation, a divorce, or an annulment; (b) terminates parental rights; (c) grants an adoption or a guardian…

81-15-103. Applicable law. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the law applicable to arbitration is Title 78B, Chapter 11, Utah Uniform Arbitration Act. (2) In determining the merits of a family law dispute, an arbitrator shall apply the law of this state, including…

81-15-104. Arbitration agreement. (1) An arbitration agreement shall: (a) be in a record signed by the parties; (b) identify the arbitrator, an arbitration organization, or a method of selecting an arbitrator; and (c) identify the family law dispute the parties intend to arbitrat…

81-15-105. Notice of arbitration. A party may initiate arbitration by giving notice to arbitrate to the other party in the manner specified in the arbitration agreement or, in the absence of a specified manner, under the laws and procedural rules of this state, other than this ch…

81-15-106. Motion for judicial relief. (1) If a party brings a motion for judicial relief under this chapter, the party shall bring the motion in: (a) the court in which a proceeding is pending involving the family law dispute subject to arbitration; or (b) if no proceeding is pe…

81-15-107. Qualification and selection of arbitrator. (1) Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (2), and unless waived in a record by the parties, an arbitrator shall be: (a) an attorney in good standing admitted to practice law or on inactive status in this state or another…

81-15-108. Disclosure by arbitrator -- Disqualification. (1) Before agreeing to serve as an arbitrator, an individual shall disclose, after making reasonable inquiry, to all parties any known fact a reasonable person would believe is likely to affect: (a) the impartiality of the …

81-15-109. Party participation. (1) A party may: (a) be represented in an arbitration by an attorney; (b) be accompanied by an individual who will not be called as a witness or act as an advocate; and (c) participate in the arbitration to the full extent permitted under the law a…

81-15-110. Temporary order or award. (1) Before an arbitrator is selected and able to act, the court may enter a temporary order on a motion of a party in accordance with this title and the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure. (2) After an arbitrator is selected: (a) the arbitrator may…

81-15-111. Protection of party or child. (1) As used in this section, "protection order" means an injunction or other order: (a) issued under the domestic violence, family violence, or stalking laws of the issuing jurisdiction; and (b) to prevent an individual from engaging in a …