Full text of Utah Utah Code § 81-11-305 — Registration of child custody determination., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 81-11-305. Registration of child custody determination.
Effective 9/1/2025
81-11-305.
Registration of child custody determination.
| (1) | A child custody determination issued by a court of another state may be registered in this state, with or without a simultaneous request for enforcement, by sending to the district court in this state:
| (a) | a letter or other document requesting registration; |
| (b) | two copies, including one certified copy, of the determination sought to be registered, and a statement under penalty of perjury that to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person seeking registration the order has not been modified; and |
| (c) | except as otherwise provided in Section 81-11-209, the name and address of the person seeking registration and any parent or person acting as a parent who has been awarded custody or parent-time in the child custody determination sought to be registered. |
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| (2) | On receipt of the documents required by Subsection (1), the registering court shall:
| (a) | cause the determination to be filed as a foreign judgment, together with one copy of any accompanying documents and information, regardless of their form; and |
| (b) | serve notice upon a person named as described in Subsection (1)(c) and provide the person with an opportunity to contest the registration in accordance with this section. |
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| (3) | The notice required by Subsection (2)(b) shall state:
| (a) | that a registered determination is enforceable as of the date of the registration in the same manner as a determination issued by a court of this state; |
| (b) | that a hearing to contest the validity of the registered determination shall be requested within 20 days after service of notice; and |
| (c) | that failure to contest the registration will result in confirmation of the child custody determination and preclude further contest of that determination with respect to any matter that could have been asserted. |
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| (4) |
| (a) | A person seeking to contest the validity of a registered order shall request a hearing within 20 days after service of the notice. |
| (b) | At that hearing, the court shall confirm the registered order unless the person contesting registration establishes that:
| (ii) | the child custody determination sought to be registered has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under Part 2, Jurisdiction; or |
| (iii) | the person contesting registration was entitled to notice, but notice was not given in accordance with the standards of Section 81-11-107 in the proceedings before the court that issued the order for which registration is sought. |
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| (5) | If a timely request for a hearing to contest the validity of the registration is not made, the registration is confirmed as a matter of law and the person requesting registration and all persons served shall be notified of the confirmation. |
| (6) | Confirmation of a registered order, whether by operation of law or after notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any matter which could have been asserted at the time of registration. |
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter
426, 2025 General Session
Frequently Asked Questions About Utah § 81-11-305
What does Utah Code § 81-11-305 cover?
Section 81-11-305 ("Registration of child custody determination.") is part of the Utah Code, the codified statutory law of Utah. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Utah § 81-11-305?
A common citation format is "Utah Code § 81-11-305" (Utah). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Utah law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Utah official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Utah attorney.
How does Utah § 81-11-305 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Utah can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
