Sometimes a relative or friend seeks to intervene in a DCFS child welfare case. This post will explain some of the rules and process for doing so. Under Utah law, when DCFS removes a child from the home, DCFS must seek to place the child with a friend or relative. If the child is of sufficient maturity, DCFS may seek the child's input on who he or she would prefer to reside. If no relative or friend is readily available, then DCFS will likely place the child in a foster home while the...

2026 was a big year for the Utah Adoption Act. Some major changes in the law occurred. Many of the changes involved record keeping and reporting requirements for adoption agencies or "child-placing agencies." Note: Utah Adoption Law Center is a law firm. We do not place children nor connect birth mothers and adoptive parents. Some changes in the law include the following: A birth parent now has 72 hours to revoke his or her consent to adoption. Consenting to adoption is a big deal. It...

In 2025, the Utah Adoption Law Center proposed a change to the Utah Adoption Statute to allow post-adoption contact agreements (PACAs) in private and stepparent adoptions. Previously, the statute only allowed such agreements in foster-child cases and there was some confusion whether agreements could be used in other types of adoption cases. The change in the law became effective on May 6, 2026. Now, PACAs may be used in various types of adoption. This is a big deal because these...