Superseded 7/1/2026

504 words·~2 min read·/ut/title-81/chapter-13/7

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/6/2026

Superseded 7/1/2026

81-13-205. Petition to terminate parental rights of a minor child.

(1)A party may bring a petition seeking to terminate parental rights to a minor child for the purpose of facilitating the adoption of the minor child in a court with jurisdiction under Title 78A, Judiciary and Judicial Administration .

(2)A petition to terminate parental rights under this section may be:

(a)joined with a proceeding on an adoption petition; or

(b)filed as a separate proceeding before or after a petition to adopt the minor child is filed.

(3)A court may enter a final order terminating parental rights before a final decree of adoption is entered.

(a)Nothing in this section limits the jurisdiction of a juvenile court relating to proceedings to terminate parental rights as described in Section 78A-6-103 .

(b)A court may not terminate parental rights to a minor child if the minor child is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court in a pending abuse, neglect, dependency, or termination of parental rights proceeding.

(5)The court may terminate an individual's parental rights to a minor child if:

(a)the individual executes a voluntary consent to adoption, or relinquishment for adoption, of the minor child, in accordance with:

(i)the requirements of this chapter; or

(ii)the laws of another state or country, if the consent is valid and irrevocable;

(b)the individual is an unmarried biological father who is not entitled to consent to adoption, or relinquishment for adoption, under Section 81-13-212 or 81-13-213 ;

(c)the individual:

(i)received notice of the adoption proceeding relating to the minor child under Section 81-13-207 ; and

(ii)failed to file a motion for relief, under Subsection 81-13-207(6) , within 30 days after the day on which the individual was served with notice of the adoption proceeding;

(d)the court finds, under Section 81-5-607 , that the individual is not a parent of the minor child; or

(e)the individual's parental rights are terminated on grounds described in Title 80, Chapter 4, Termination and Restoration of Parental Rights, and termination is in the best interests of the minor child.

(6)The court shall appoint an indigent defense service provider in accordance with Title 78B, Chapter 22, Indigent Defense Act, to represent a parent, as defined in Section 81-13-211 , who faces any action initiated by a private party under Title 80, Chapter 4, Termination and Restoration of Parental Rights, or whose parental rights are subject to termination under this section.

(7)If a county incurs expenses in providing indigent defense services to an indigent individual facing any action initiated by a private party under Title 80, Chapter 4, Termination and Restoration of Parental Rights, or termination of parental rights under this section, the county may apply for reimbursement from the Utah Indigent Defense Commission in accordance with Section 78B-22-406 .

(8)A petition filed under this section is subject to the procedural requirements of this chapter.

Amended by Chapter 155 , 2026 General Session