{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-76-7-203","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 76-7-203","heading":"Sale of child -- Felony -- Payment of adoption related expenses.","body":"(1) For purposes of this section:\n(a) \"Adoption related expenses\" means expenses that:\n(i) are reasonably related to the adoption of a child;\n(ii) are incurred for a reasonable amount; and\n(iii) may include expenses:\n(A) of the mother or father of the child being adopted, including:\n(I) legal expenses;\n(II) maternity expenses;\n(III) medical expenses;\n(IV) hospital expenses;\n(V) counseling expenses;\n(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\n(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;\n(B) of a directly affected person for:\n(I) travel between the directly affected person's home and the location where the child will be born or placed for adoption; or\n(II) temporary living expenses during the pregnancy or confinement of the mother; or\n(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:\n(I) place the child for adoption;\n(II) consent to an adoption; or\n(III) cooperate in the completion of an adoption.\n(b) \"Directly affected person\" means a person who is:\n(i) a parent or guardian of a minor when the minor is the mother or father of the child being adopted;\n(ii) a dependent of:\n(A) the mother or father of the child being adopted; or\n(B) the parent or guardian described in Subsection (1)(b)(i); or\n(iii) the spouse or partner of the mother or father of the child being adopted.\n(2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a person is guilty of a third degree felony if the person:\n(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\n(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).\n(3) A person does not violate this section by paying or receiving payment for adoption related expenses, if:\n(a) the expenses are paid as an act of charity; and\n(b) the payment is not made for the purpose of inducing the mother, parent, or legal guardian of a child to:\n(i) place the child for adoption;\n(ii) consent to an adoption; or\n(iii) cooperate in the completion of an adoption.","path":["Title 76 Criminal Offenses","Chapter 76-7 Offenses Against the Family","Part 76-7-2 Nonsupport and Custody of Children"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter7/76-7-S203.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:34Z","sha256":"b78d107418c837d7ad66b44633b7ee2a69de1799265593bf1340a76c7bef52f5","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-76-7-202","next":"us-ut/utah-code-76-7-301"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}