Utah statute
Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-203 — Sale of child - Felony - Payment of adoption related expenses.
Current through 2026 General Session
Part of Part 2: Nonsupport and Custody of Children, Utah Code.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-203
Statutory text current through the 2026 General Session. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Utah.
(1) For purposes of this section: (1)(a) "Adoption related expenses" means expenses that: (1)(a)(i) are reasonably related to the adoption of a child; (1)(a)(ii) are incurred for a reasonable amount; and (1)(a)(iii) may include expenses: (1)(a)(iii)(A) of the mother or father of the child being adopted, including: (1)(a)(iii)(A)(I) legal expenses; (1)(a)(iii)(A)(II) maternity expenses; (1)(a)(iii)(A)(III) medical expenses; (1)(a)(iii)(A)(IV) hospital expenses; (1)(a)(iii)(A)(V) counseling expenses; (1)(a)(iii)(A)(VI) temporary living expenses and lost wages during the pregnancy of the mother for up to eight weeks after the day on which the mother delivers the child; or (1)(a)(iii)(A)(VII) expenses for travel between the mother's or father's home and the location where the child will be born or placed for adoption; (1)(a)(iii)(B) of a directly affected person for: (1)(a)(iii)(B)(I) travel between the directly affected person's home and the location where the child will be born or placed for adoption; or (1)(a)(iii)(B)(II) temporary living expenses during the pregnancy or confinement of the mother; or (1)(a)(iii)(C) other than those included in Subsection (1)(a)(iii)(A) or (B), that are not made for the purpose of inducing the mother, parent, or legal guardian of a child to: (1)(a)(iii)(C)(I) place the child for adoption; (1)(a)(iii)(C)(II) consent to an adoption; or (1)(a)(iii)(C)(III) cooperate in the completion of an adoption. (1)(b) "Directly affected person" means a person who is: (1)(b)(i) a parent or guardian of a minor when the minor is the mother or father of the child being adopted; (1)(b)(ii) a dependent of: (1)(b)(ii)(A) the mother or father of the child being adopted; or (1)(b)(ii)(B) the parent or guardian described in Subsection (1)(b)(i); or (1)(b)(iii) the spouse or partner of the mother or father of the child being adopted. (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a person is guilty of a third degree felony if the person: (2)(a) while having custody, care, control, or possession of a child, sells, or disposes of the child, or attempts or offers to sell or dispose of the child, for and in consideration of the payment of money or another thing of value; or (2)(b) offers, gives, or attempts to give money or another thing of value to a person, with the intent to induce or encourage a person to violate Subsection (2)(a). (3) A person does not violate this section by paying or receiving payment for adoption related expenses, if: (3)(a) the expenses are paid as an act of charity; and (3)(b) the payment is not made for the purpose of inducing the mother, parent, or legal guardian of a child to: (3)(b)(i) place the child for adoption; (3)(b)(ii) consent to an adoption; or (3)(b)(iii) cooperate in the completion of an adoption.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is sale of child a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
Sale of child is a Third Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-203.
Which Utah statute covers sale of child?
Sale of child is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-203 (Sale of child - Felony - Payment of adoption related expenses).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.