{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-78a-2-704","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 78A-2-704","heading":"Public policy regarding attorney guardian ad litem -- Training.","body":"(1) An attorney guardian ad litem may not presume that a child and the child's parent are adversaries.\n(2) An attorney guardian ad litem shall be trained on and implement into practice:\n(a) the parental rights and child and family protection principles provided in Section 80-2a-201;\n(b) the fundamental liberties of parents and the public policy of the state to support family unification to the fullest extent possible;\n(c) the constitutionally protected rights of parents, in cases where the state is a party;\n(d) the use of a least restrictive means analysis regarding state claims of a compelling child welfare interest;\n(e) the priority of maintaining a child safely in the child's home, whenever possible;\n(f) the importance of:\n(i) kinship placement, if the child is removed from the home; and\n(ii) keeping sibling groups together, whenever practicable and in the best interests of the children;\n(g) the preference for kinship adoption over nonkinship adoption, if the parent-child relationship is legally terminated;\n(h) the potential for a guardianship placement if the parent-child relationship is legally terminated and no appropriate adoption placement is available; and\n(i) the use of an individualized permanency plan, only as a last resort.\n(3) The office shall implement policies and practice guidelines that reflect the priorities described in Subsections (2)(e) through (i) for the placement of children.","path":["Title 78A Judiciary and Judicial Administration","Chapter 78A-2 Judicial Administration","Part 78A-2-7 District Court Guardian Ad Litem Act"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title78A/Chapter2/78A-2-S704.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:34Z","sha256":"943b221d7e7a1252ea3495f1fc55cd021e44d63481d700e73216b96aff1899c9","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-78a-2-703","next":"us-ut/utah-code-78a-2-705"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}