{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-81-9-206","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 81-9-206","heading":"Determination of parent-time schedule -- Parent-time factors.","body":"(1) If the parties are unable to agree on a parent-time schedule, the court may:\n(a) establish a parent-time schedule; or\n(b) order a parent-time schedule described in Part 3, Parent-time Schedules.\n(2) There is a presumption that the advisory guidelines described in Section 81-9-202 and the parent-time schedules described in Part 3, Parent-time Schedules, are the minimum parent-time to which the noncustodial parent and the minor child are entitled.\n(3) In accordance with Section 81-9-104, when ordering a parent-time schedule a court shall consider:\n(a) evidence of domestic violence, physical abuse, or sexual abuse involving the minor child, a parent, or a household member of the parent; and\n(b) whether parent-time is likely to endanger the minor child's health or physical or psychological safety.\n(4) A court may consider the following when ordering a parent-time schedule:\n(a) evidence of coercive control;\n(b) evidence of psychological maltreatment;\n(c) the distance between the residency of the minor child and the noncustodial parent;\n(d) the lack of demonstrated parenting skills without safeguards to ensure the minor child's well-being during parent-time;\n(e) the financial inability of the noncustodial parent to provide adequate food and shelter for the minor child during periods of parent-time;\n(f) the preference of the minor child if the court determines the minor child is of sufficient maturity;\n(g) the incarceration of the noncustodial parent in a county jail, secure youth corrections facility, or an adult corrections facility;\n(h) shared interests between the minor child and the noncustodial parent;\n(i) the involvement or lack of involvement of the noncustodial parent in the school, community, religious, or other related activities of the minor child;\n(j) the availability of the noncustodial parent to care for the minor child when the custodial parent is unavailable to do so because of work or other circumstances;\n(k) a substantial and chronic pattern of missing, canceling, or denying regularly scheduled parent-time;\n(l) the minimal duration of and lack of significant bonding in the parents' relationship before the conception of the minor child;\n(m) the parent-time schedule of siblings;\n(n) the lack of reasonable alternatives to the needs of a nursing minor child; and\n(o) any other criteria the court determines relevant to the best interests of the minor child.\n(5) The court shall enter the reasons underlying the court's order for parent-time that:\n(a) incorporates a parent-time schedule described in Section 81-9-302 or 81-9-304; or\n(b) provides more or less parent-time than a parent-time schedule described in Section 81-9-302 or 81-9-304.\n(6) A court may not order a parent-time schedule unless the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that the parent-time schedule is in the best interest of the minor child.\n(7)\n(a) If the court orders parent-time and a protective order or stalking injunction is still in place, the court shall consider whether to order the parents to conduct parent-time pick-up and transfer through a third party.\n(b) The parent who is the stated victim in the protective order or stalking injunction may submit to the court, and the court shall consider, the name of a person considered suitable to act as the third party.\n(c) If the court orders the parents to conduct parent-time through a third party, the parenting plan shall specify the time, day, place, manner, and the third party to be used to implement the exchange.\n(8) If there is a protective order, stalking injunction, or the court finds that a parent has committed domestic violence, the court shall:\n(a) consider the impact of domestic violence in awarding parent-time; and\n(b) make specific findings regarding the award of parent-time.\n(9) Upon a specific finding by the court of the need for peace officer enforcement, the court may include a provision in an order for parent-time that authorizes a peace officer to enforce the order for parent-time.\n(10) When parent-time has not taken place for an extended period of time and the minor child lacks an appropriate bond with the noncustodial parent, both parents shall:\n(a) consider the possible adverse effects upon the minor child; and\n(b) gradually reintroduce an appropriate parent-time plan for the noncustodial parent.\n(11) If a court enters an order establishing a parent-time schedule for a minor child:\n(a) the court order governs the parent-time schedule for the minor child; and\n(b) an amendment to this chapter does not modify the parent-time schedule unless the court orders otherwise.\n(12) Once a parent-time schedule has been established for a minor child, the parties may only modify the parent-time schedule if:\n(a) there is mutual consent of the parties to the modification that is in writing and signed by both parties; or\n(b) the court modifies the parent-time schedule in a new order.","path":["Title 81 Utah Domestic Relations Code","Chapter 81-9 Custody, Parent-time, and Visitation","Part 81-9-2 Custody and Parent-time Between Parents"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title81/Chapter9/81-9-S206.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:34Z","sha256":"a126c983ba023b5045477492fa4435c2190d52ad8c8b26c1f81d91ef2394f778","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-81-9-205","next":"us-ut/utah-code-81-9-207"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}