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Utah Code Title 80. Utah Juvenile Code § 80-4-305. Court disposition of child upon termination of parental rights--Posttermination reunification

Current as of May 05, 2022 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

(1) As used in this section, “relative” means:

(a) an adult who is a grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, great aunt, uncle, great uncle, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepparent, first cousin, sibling, or stepsibling of a child;  and

(b) in the case of a child who is an Indian child, an extended family member as defined in 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903.

(2) Upon entry of an order under this chapter, the juvenile court may:

(a) place the child in the legal custody and guardianship of a licensed child placement agency or the division for adoption;  or

(b) make any other disposition of the child authorized under Section 80-3-405.

(3) Subject to the requirements of Subsections (4) and (5), all adoptable children placed in the custody of the division shall be placed for adoption.

(4) If the parental rights of all parents of an adoptable child placed in the custody of the division have been terminated and a suitable adoptive placement is not already available, the juvenile court:

(a) shall determine whether there is a relative who desires to adopt the child;

(b) may order the division to conduct a reasonable search to determine whether there are relatives who are willing to adopt the child;  and

(c) shall, if a relative desires to adopt the child:

(i) make a specific finding regarding the fitness of the relative to adopt the child;  and

(ii) place the child for adoption with that relative unless the juvenile court finds that adoption by the relative is not in the best interest of the child.

(5) This section does not guarantee that a relative will be permitted to adopt the child.

(6) A parent whose rights were terminated under this chapter, or a relative of the child, as defined by Section 80-3-102, may petition for guardianship of the child if:

(a)(i) following an adoptive placement, the child's adoptive parent returns the child to the custody of the division;  or

(ii) the child is in the custody of the division for one year following the day on which the parent's rights were terminated, and no permanent placement has been found or is likely to be found;  and

(b) reunification with the child's parent, or guardianship by the child's relative, is in the best interest of the child.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Utah Code Title 80. Utah Juvenile Code § 80-4-305. Court disposition of child upon termination of parental rights--Posttermination reunification - last updated May 05, 2022 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ut/title-80-utah-juvenile-code/ut-code-sect-80-4-305/

Read this complete Utah Code Title 80. Utah Juvenile Code § 80-4-305. Court disposition of child upon termination of parental rights--Posttermination reunification on Westlaw

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