DISCLAIMER:  Please note that these questions and answers do not and are not intended to constitute legal advice on a particular situation.  Readers are encouraged to seek competent legal advice for their specific situation. I want to adopt a child but I am concerned that the child’s grandparent will oppose my adoption petition.  What should I do? It depends.  The Utah Adoption Act (Utah Code 81-13-207) sets forth the persons who must be given notice of an adoption petition;

While talking with some folks about post-adoption services for foster children, I took some notes. Here are the most salient points: Reach out to DCFS for post-adoption help. DCFS has a vested interest in seeing adopted foster children succeed in their adoption. DCFS has a team of post-adoption professionals who may be able to provide services or referrals. The sooner you request help, the more likely that help will be successful. Of course, use your best judgment. DCFS

Welcome to the Utah Adoption Law Center.  Today’s post covers the top 10 questions you may have about adoption in Utah. Can I have the child’s name changed as part of the adoption? Yes.   How old must a child be before his or her consent is required? 12 years old. How much does adoption cost? The classic lawyer's answer is “it depends.” In foster child adoptions, Utah DCFS will usually reimburse you up to $2,000 per child so we keep the legal costs below that amount (sometime

Some people ask whether a biological parent's rights can be terminated without adoption--in a standalone case.  This is a great question....

Name changes are often an important part of the adoption process; however, name changes can also be done without an adoption. This post...

Utah has taken a major step toward increasing transparency in adoption with the passage of House Bill 129 (HB 129). The legislation...

This post is not about about adoption but is a word to the wise about how to detect scams. My wife just received a text message saying...

Let's talk about filing a tax return before your adoption is final and how to use the IRS Form W-7A . Since the adoption process can...

Dear Client, I hope you are well. Now that your private adoption is complete and tax time is upon us, I want to make sure you are aware...

If you are in the military and plan to adopt a child, please be aware that you may qualify for DoD reimbursement of your adoption...

For most people considering adoption, the first question is, "How much does adoption cost?" Answer: It depends on the type of adoption....

The Utah legislature wants to both protect parents' constitutional rights and protect children. This is post is about how the Utah...

Interested in adopting a foreign-born child? If the child has a United States State Department Certificate of Birth Abroad, then that is...

You may be wondering if you need to have a pre-adoption home study done. If so, read on! Utah law requires that a preplacement adoptive...

Juvenile courts sometimes place neglected children in a permanent guardianship--perhaps with grandparents or another relative. What's...

The Utah legislature and governor recently passed a law providing new, shortened residency requirements for adoption. The new law is at...

Utah adoption law has competing goals. An important part of our work at the Utah Adoption Law Center is gathering information and...

People regularly call and ask whether they can adopt a child. As with many legal matters, "it depends" because the devil is in the...

A minor becoming a parent? What rights do young men and women have when they are under the age of 18? What if two 17-year olds--who are...

If a birth parent does not consent to adoption, what are the grounds for termination of parental rights? The most common grounds are...