Utah Code Title 78B. Judicial Code § 78B-24-203. Prohibited custody transfer

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a parent or guardian of a child, or an individual with whom a child has been placed for adoption, may not transfer custody of the child to another person with the intent, at the time of the transfer, to abandon the rights and responsibilities concerning the child.

(2) A parent or guardian of a child or an individual with whom a child has been placed for adoption may transfer custody of the child to another person with the intent, at the time of the transfer, to abandon the rights and responsibilities concerning the child only through:

(a) adoption or guardianship;

(b) judicial award of custody;

(d) other judicial or tribal action; or

(e) safe relinquishment under Title 80, Chapter 4, Part 5, Safe Relinquishment of a Newborn Child.

(3)(a) A person may not receive custody of a child, or act as an intermediary in a transfer of custody of a child, if the person knows or reasonably should know the transfer violates Subsection (1).

(b) This subsection does not apply if the person as soon as practicable after the transfer, notifies the Division of Child and Family Services of the transfer or takes appropriate action to establish custody under Subsection (2).

(4) A violation of this section is a class B misdemeanor.

(5) A violation of Subsection (1) is not established solely because a parent or guardian that transfers custody of a child does not regain custody.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code

Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Utah Code Title 78B. Judicial Code § 78B-24-203. Prohibited custody transfer - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ut/title-78b-judicial-code/ut-code-sect-78b-24-203/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Did FindLaw Help You Understand This Legal Issue?

Make It a Preferred Google Search Source

Add to Google

Latest Blog Posts

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)